So will Centro be competitive in US Nationals

holbythebear wrote:

You guys are underestimating the Pros. Just because they haven't busted PRs this season and the college kids look sharp (duh, the just had nationals). Lomong, Manzano and Wheating are trying to medal this year. I personally think Wheating and Manzano have a great shot at a WC medal with their blazing kicks and ability to run a fast pace if needed.

Centro's PR? 3:36? 6 seconds behing Wheating and 4 behind Manzano.

PR's in this case are apples and oranges. where did all the pro's set PR's? where did Centro? Until he races in Europe as they have his PR's and accomplishments are more than enough to indicate he has a real shot to make it and at they very least should be one of the 2-3 guys scrabling down the straight away for the last spot. A 2nd place finish wouldn't completely shock me.

Centro comes third or 4th...everyone is forgetting Russell brown and his recent 3.51 mile kicking down Nick Willis. torrane is running fast and smart these days and will be tough, but Wheating will win.

There will be at least four people who will guarantee that Mr. Centro will be doing no throat-slitting gestures that day.

Perspectivation wrote:

PR's in this case are apples and oranges. where did all the pro's set PR's? where did Centro? Until he races in Europe as they have his PR's and accomplishments are more than enough to indicate he has a real shot to make it and at they very least should be one of the 2-3 guys scrabling down the straight away for the last spot. A 2nd place finish wouldn't completely shock me.

I will give you that, but I think 4 to 6 seconds is a lot in the 1500 no matter how you slice it. I would expect he would be 5th. Is Lagat running the 1500, or just the 5000?

Look at Wheating. He was I think 337 during NCAA, then went 330 that summer in a large Euro race. Centro went 336 two years ago. Hes extremely talented and obviously has great speed. He demolished Ulrey that last 100 and Ulrey made the world team in 2009. If Centro has as good of a day as he did at NCAA's I think his chances of making the team look pretty good.

I dunno about that wrote:

Look at Wheating. He was I think 337 during NCAA, then went 330 that summer in a large Euro race. Centro went 336 two years ago. Hes extremely talented and obviously has great speed. He demolished Ulrey that last 100 and Ulrey made the world team in 2009. If Centro has as good of a day as he did at NCAA's I think his chances of making the team look pretty good.

This is my point, his PR is not relevant until he runs 2 or 3 fair attempts in Europe. Look at AJ last year. Look at Wheating. Ulrey in 2009. It's alwasy the same. I'm not saying that Centro WILL make this team, but he's a lot less behind these guys in terms of full out redline PR's than current marks suggest. And it IS in Eugene.

The cool thing is there are a lot of contenders in it.

So how easy did Centro make that look! Manzano was screaming on the outside and centro was so relaxed - looked as easy as Wheating!

Knowbetterbutter wrote:

zeno wrote:

Whats wrong with all you posters! Centro really sucks. Well lets not be that harsh. But lets just say that compared to the top US guys he's very average. You really need to be a CONSISTENT sub 3:55 guy to place top 3 in senior nats which Centro is not! He's not nearly dominating as Manzano was nor does not have any of the upside that Wheating did. He kind of reminds me of Andy Downin who won senior nats in the 1500 back in 2001 and then couldnt even make the A standard for worlds that year. How pitiful for US distance running at the time.

You will soon find out just how mistaken you are.

Starting to feel stupid yet, zeno?

bumps

fun to look back on this thread now, no?

I was one who thought maybe, just maybe, Centro could sneak in for 3rd.

Two things I didn't consider was: 1. the pace being so slow and 2: That Centro would show more maturity and racing savvy than anyone in the race.

A big question still looms as to what Centro can do off a fast pace. If Wheating had run an intelligent race instead of running like he was a college frosh we would know that now. Wheating was plenty capable or taking charge of that race and running the kick out of just about everyone.

But we will have to wait for races in Europe to find that out.

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