Loaded Fields From 600 to 3,000 Meters Include Return To Track For Matthew Centrowitz, 2023 Openers for NCAA Champions Joe Waskom, Charles Hicks, Jorinde Van KlinkenBy Doug Binder, DyeStat EditorPhoto courtesy World Athletics...
Plus it's early season. Wightman just lost a 3k in a sprint finish to someone who ran a 2:12 marathon this past fall. I think it's good for the sport if we see more top pros racing -- even if they're not in peak shape.
I think he gets crushed this weekend and makes the team at nationals this year.
Ya he often comes into season in terrible shape, especially in recent years. Then he starts running well at the right time, June/July. Although his super fast days are probably over. I don't think he'll win anymore USATF Outdoor titles, he'll 'just' make the team one more time this year with the 3rd place slot and then barely miss another olympic team next year and then retire. He's 33 years old, pretty high up there for a 1500m runner. Zero of the top 100 runners from last year are as old as Centro. Only 6 of the top 100 were 30 or older. Five were 20 or younger... So as rare is it is to be one of the best in the world at age 20 or younger, it's similarly as rare to still be one of the best in the world at 30 or over. Most of these guys are in the 23-27 age range for the 1500.
The issue is that Centro will never be what he was. Not sure why anyone is excited to see Centro try valiantly to eventually run 3:33 again. He will never run faster than that again. I think deep down even he knows it.
The US was terrible at mens 1500 last year, sure there were some letdowns and you would hope this year would be better, but 3:33 would make him very relevant with his racing savvy.
For someone who has reached the top and fallen back down, there is always hope that they can reach that form again, just for one moment. I'm sure Centrowitz is building for that moment, but he knows it will take months and just wants be somewhere in the lead pack for this one. Great to see him going at it, though.
Someone may be old enough to remember Jim Ryun almost out of the sport between 1968-1972. He came back and then was tripped in the heats or semi's in Munich.
Today, he would he would have been moved on to the next round, back then he was out.
They can come back. He may not run 3:33, he may and he may medal again.
For someone who has reached the top and fallen back down, there is always hope that they can reach that form again, just for one moment. I'm sure Centrowitz is building for that moment, but he knows it will take months and just wants be somewhere in the lead pack for this one. Great to see him going at it, though.
Someone may be old enough to remember Jim Ryun almost out of the sport between 1968-1972. He came back and then was tripped in the heats or semi's in Munich.
Today, he would he would have been moved on to the next round, back then he was out.
They can come back. He may not run 3:33, he may and he may medal again.
Jim Ryun was 25 years old @ the Munich Olympics. Centro is now past his prime.
Sumner dropped 8 seconds in the outdoor 800m last year and 1.1 in the 400m. So, he may be 19 but he is not in my mind physically mature yet and will drop significantly more with these training partners at the U of GA. His 200m pr from 2020 is only 22, but he is surely a 21 flat guy now or better, and so can run 33.6 indoors.
2022 45.90 UW Husky Track, Seattle, WA (USA) 15 JUN 2022
If Hocker, Teare, Nuguse, Kessler, Thompson bring their best shape it will be difficult for an aging Centro to qualify. After a year without efficient training?
Centro spent a lot of 2020 injured and still came in just behind Hocker in 2021. I think Hocker, Teare, and Nuguse are the favorites for the team, but I think if Centro's training goes well, and any of those 3 aren't at their best, he makes it.
He's 33 years old, pretty high up there for a 1500m runner. Zero of the top 100 runners from last year are as old as Centro. Only 6 of the top 100 were 30 or older. Five were 20 or younger... So as rare is it is to be one of the best in the world at age 20 or younger, it's similarly as rare to still be one of the best in the world at 30 or over. Most of these guys are in the 23-27 age range for the 1500.
Nick Willis was 33 when he won the bronze medal in Rio.
Sumner dropped 8 seconds in the outdoor 800m last year and 1.1 in the 400m. So, he may be 19 but he is not in my mind physically mature yet and will drop significantly more with these training partners at the U of GA. His 200m pr from 2020 is only 22, but he is surely a 21 flat guy now or better, and so can run 33.6 indoors.
2022 45.90 UW Husky Track, Seattle, WA (USA) 15 JUN 2022