Can Centro win worlds

great shot at a medal once again, particularly with the big drop at 800m. you know he'll close well but he has got to be up very close to the leaders with 400m to go. he cannot cede Kiprop half a second or more at the bell. Kiprop could blow the tactics of course, and then Taoufik may very well be unbeatable again at world's.

centro is a baller

he's not a 3:45 runner dbag.

Academic hobo wrote:

If the race is won in 3:45 which it won't be

I think if its that kinda pace thats a worse scenario for centro. Im not sure he has that kind of raw speed. I think 3:37-3:40 he is golden.

Kiprop and Kiplagat repeat as 1-2. Willis, Centro, and Mackhloufi all trying to catch them down homestretch. Winning time is 3:36.

jjjjjjjj wrote:

he cannot cede Kiprop half a second or more at the bell.

Are you kidding me? If Kiprop is in form, Centro doesn't have a prayer if he's behind at the bell. If you're going to beat an in-shape Kiprop, your lead going into the final 150 had better be insurmountable. That won't happen if you try to out sit-and-kick him.

Kiprop and Kiplagat might be the best overall runners in the world but when it comes to toeing the line at worlds under pressure situation there is no one more clutch than centro. Thats why I love the kid. You can always count on him. No DNFs, no DFLs, no Scratches, the kid is always ready to contend for something.

With Manzano it's different though. Manzano looks like he can outkick anyone the last 100.

I think the only way he could win would be to jump Kiprop in the last 10 meters before he has a chance to respond. Similar to what Kiplagat did Pre. If Kiprop is healthy he can only be beaten if the race is over by the time he realizes he has been beaten. If someone has a baller last 30 meters and Kiprop does not shift fast enough he could go down.

Yes

Centro has been The Man in the US for a couple of years now.

Very soon he will be simply The Man.

There is no one who is truly dominant, but if Kiprop is having a good day, he is number one. There are '5-6 other athletes' who are medal contenders, which includes Centro and Manzano. However, the fact that Centro is running with great confidence and his recent 800 PR makes me put him near the bottom of that '5-6 other athletes'. Being realistic, Centro winning Worlds is not impossible, but not likely; I would say at best, he about a 50% chance of medaling. With that said, on any given Sunday, any 3:32 capable athlete, who puts themselves in position and can close well has a shot...this even includes athletes we aren't even thinking about.

Cento is awesome.

But you know who looks like he could win at Worlds?

Leo.

His kick, as we saw yesterday, is viscious

Kiprop, if he's on and runs smart, wins. That being said, Centro will be on, and will run smart, could win or be in the medals.

The key thing for Matt is how he handles the stretch from 400 out to 300 out. IN 2011 WC, he gave up a lot of ground in that second to last turn and lost prime position. If he solves that chink in his tactical armor, I see GOLD.

YOu can be sure he's been working on it.

Giles Corey wrote:

His kick, as we saw yesterday, is viscious

Vicious or viscous? A viscous kick would be pretty cool...

He won't win. In international competition he never places himself in a position to win. He always kicks for 3rd-5th.

I think Leo has a better chance of winning. He had a nasty kick last year. By far the last 200 of anyone plus he has the confidence of knowing he can medal now.

Makhloufi is a one hit wonder and won't medal again. Kiprop will defend his title.

Can't wait for Worlds

I'm quite sure both Centro and AlSal expect the World's race to be much faster, and they will prepare for that.

Centro looks like he's really benefiting from core program of AlSal -- he looks balanced, and clearly stronger in the upper body. Centro has a good shot if he runs it tactically correct and is ready to improvise if needed.

Oh reallllly? wrote:

Giles Corey wrote:

His kick, as we saw yesterday, is viscious

Vicious or viscous? A viscous kick would be pretty cool...

I meant vicious. That was a legitimate misspell and not a typo

I think that he can win but most likely won't. There isn't really a dominant 1500m runner in the world now (although Kiprop could be if he were more consistent) and Centrowitz is consistently well positioned in championships. If the race were run 20 times, I think he would win at least once. Odds of it happening this year don't seem too great to me, though.

Centro has no chance to win. Real runners finish in 51 and run 3:33. Jokers can run a fresh 51 second 400 and think they are great. Leo would have beaten him if he positioned himself better with 400 to go. Leo will beat him when it counts, again. Not to mention he can't come within 10 arms reach of Asbel and Silas when they are healthy.

He runs like a coward. Hangs in the back and desperately kicks for 3rd-5th place.

Having a killer instinct and the balls to lead is what separates the men (Makhloufi) from the boys (Centro).