RE: Centrowitz: Best American running family ever?

i feel like the centrowitz family may have great runners now but when the spence twins become better then neely and not to mention the youngest one. The spence family will become the greatest distance running family.

Another oregon group wrote:

Definitely the McChesneys.

When you talk about running families, you have to start and stop with the McChesneys. Case Closed!

Totally agree on the McChesneys. In volume of runners and in character. Wonderful and humble, talented and giving.

Maine Mt. wrote:

Another oregon group wrote:

Definitely the McChesneys.

When you talk about running families, you have to start and stop with the McChesneys. Case Closed!

Yeah, after reading through this thread and another thread about Billy, I think (at least for now) the McChesney's have the title. All four sons accomplished great things on the high school and college level, with Billy going on to set American records and make the olympic team. Bill Sr. was a great athlete himself in college and continued to compete and set age group records well into his 50's.

Does anybody have more specifics on what Bill Sr. himself ran as a younger runner and what their mother has run?

The Clark Family

Jearl

Joetta Hazel

The Centros are certainly making a bigtime case for themselves though. Two are still fairly young but the dad made two olympic teams (more than spence), he had an American record (one more than spence), was the OT champ at 5k, was one of the best high school milers, NCAA all american multiple times.

Steve did win a medal in a downperiod...especially for US marathon/distance running (not really his fault).

Id say centro Sr. is at least on par with Spence Sr. Matt Centro has so far been far and away better than Neely. 3:57i, Pan Am champ, 4th AT HS 2 mile and like 3rd or 4th all time in combined HS mile and 2 mile lists.

Lauren is no slouch herself and seems to be making great strides.

the mercados and the halls have to be up there.

everyone forgets about steve prefontaine and his younger brother beavis (13:29 5k, 3:52 mile)

Cant wrote:

The Centros are certainly making a bigtime case for themselves though. Two are still fairly young but the dad made two olympic teams (more than spence), he had an American record (one more than spence), was the OT champ at 5k, was one of the best high school milers, NCAA all american multiple times.

Steve did win a medal in a downperiod...especially for US marathon/distance running (not really his fault).

An international medal is an international medal and trumps someone with zero international medals. Any "downperiod" (sic) in the US is irrelevant, he was running against top international marathoners when he won that medal.

centro jr. is quiter i think. i only talked to him a few times when we raced in high school

Jr. Cent and L Cent are still pretty young. they may be the best ever but I'm gonna wait 10 years before such a thing is said. could be though.

There was a father-son thread about 6-8 months ago that covered a lot of the same names that are mentioned in this thread.

There is a pretty good younger Lacy running right now, also a younger Popejoy. I don't know any of their PRs, except the elder Lacy and Popejoy had some quick times.

My 5000 = 14:58

My son's = 14:44

Where would we rank? Probably not even on the list, but probably higher than most of you reading this.

How about Kip & Martin Keino?first father/son duo to break 4:00 in mile...

a fair analysis wrote:

How about best non American family?

I say the Dibabas!!!

Too bad he didn't go to Arkansas, he'd be just out of the Top 10, oh but it's a record at Oregon?

oh vinny wrote:

Too bad he didn't go to Arkansas, he'd be just out of the Top 10, oh but it's a record at Oregon?

Anyone have a link to that Arkansas miler record list with nationality next to it? I'd be interested to see how many Americans were developed in that program.

Everyone with half a pea brain knows that Arkansas has been focussed on indoor ncaa titles more than anyone for the last few decades, while Oregon really just got serious over the past several years.

Be interesting to know what Arkansas best 4 x 1500 or 4 x mile is.

oscar wrote:

20 years from now this thread will have an easy answer:

THE GOUCHERS:

Kara- 2:15 marathon

Adam- not much after college, but stil solid

Scott- 12:47 5k

Kristin- 29:30 10k

Ridic. post and completely off topic of the thread, but I thought I'd give you a little help on Adam since you said (not much after college, but stil solid) -

1,500m - 3:36.54 (2001); 5,000m - 13:10.00 (2006);

3,000m - 7:34.96 (2001); 10,000m – 27:59.41 (2006)

Career Highlights: Two-time U.S. Outdoor 5,000m champion (’99, ’00); 2000 USA 12km and 4km XC champion; 2006 USA 4 km XC Champ; 2007 USA Cross Country runner-up. He remains the only man ever to win the 4 km and 12 km titles at the same USA Cross Country Championships. 6th at the world cross country championship 4K.

"Not much after college" ??

Right, like Oregon's never had a foreigner who ran the mile.

Razorbacklash wrote:

oh vinny wrote:

Too bad he didn't go to Arkansas, he'd be just out of the Top 10, oh but it's a record at Oregon?

Anyone have a link to that Arkansas miler record list with nationality next to it? I'd be interested to see how many Americans were developed in that program.

Everyone with half a pea brain knows that Arkansas has been focussed on indoor ncaa titles more than anyone for the last few decades, while Oregon really just got serious over the past several years.

Be interesting to know what Arkansas best 4 x 1500 or 4 x mile is.

Dad- ran a 3:15 Marathon while drinking a six pack. (Centro senior can probably do this)

Son- Altitude trained in South American drinking 20 - 40oz beers in a day then running 5 miles at 8,000 feet.

(I want to see Centro Jr. try this one... lightweight.)

Daughter- "Dated" all the guys on two college cross country teams.

(I think girl Centro has morals and possibly standards)

Mother- Disowned us all for drinking too much and running drunk. (smart)

No family is even close to the Christiansens!!!!! Jake, Jacy, Job, Jed, Jesi, Jill,and Jenny. They had more american age group records before they turned 12 years old than these other runners will achieve in their lifetime!!!