Where does Centro go from here?

800m training is applied science wrote:

Matt C. is in the Eamonn Coghlan/Steve Ovett/John Walker/Thomas Wessinghage stage of his career. I believe all four men by age 31 switched to 5000m from 1500m. Matt C's one mile personal best is close to one mile personal best of all four men. Matt C is a far superior 5000m man compared to the four men stated. Matt C. is unlikely to medal again at Olympics or W.C. in any event, but Matt C. no doubt can make 5000m final for at least a few more years. Too bad there is not a 3000m race at Olympics or W.C. Some aged out 1500m men would potentially be entertaining at 3000m.

There was no one was running under 12:50 in those days. Now there are more than twenty. Big difference today.

umstead wrote:

800m training is applied science wrote:

Matt C. is in the Eamonn Coghlan/Steve Ovett/John Walker/Thomas Wessinghage stage of his career. I believe all four men by age 31 switched to 5000m from 1500m. Matt C's one mile personal best is close to one mile personal best of all four men. Matt C is a far superior 5000m man compared to the four men stated. Matt C. is unlikely to medal again at Olympics or W.C. in any event, but Matt C. no doubt can make 5000m final for at least a few more years. Too bad there is not a 3000m race at Olympics or W.C. Some aged out 1500m men would potentially be entertaining at 3000m.

There was no one was running under 12:50 in those days. Now there are more than twenty. Big difference today.

Poster, you are stating the criteria for Matt C. to medal in 5000m. Getting through the heats at Olympics & W.C. in 1500m is somewhat correlated with one's 800m ability. Matt C.'s 800m skills will erode and erode quickly. Do you doubt Matt C. can get to 5000m final at Olympics & W.C? I believe if Matt C. trains for 5000m, he can beat the Woody Kincaids and the Grant Fishers for awhile. Lastly, when Coghlan, Ovett, Walker & Wessinghage were age 31, they were only racing 5000m in about 13:15 to 13:22 range. W.R. then was in 12:59 to 13:00 range when those men were 31. If Coghlan could earn 5000m W.C. gold and if John Walker could reach 1984 Olympics 5000m final, Matt C. can reach 5000m final in Olympics and W.C. to 2024.

burrito vendor wrote:

Owner of an offal burrito taco truck named Shelby's

And each burrito should cost $3.50.

Didn't John Walker suffer from pretty bad compartment syndrome? I can't recall when or if he ever got surgery but that had to have a big impact. Coghlan was the only medal threat that I remember moving up and winning a major title but admittedly I think that was the year the Africans boycotted and of course he never ran anything comparable to his indoor mile records. Dixon didn't have the medals necessary but I think he was ranked #1 in the world over 5000 on a few different years (definitely at least one year) I would argue that alone qualifies as successful although I understand someone disagreeing with that.

800m training,

You really think Centro will be motivated by POSSIBLY MAKING a 5000 final at WC or Oly? An Olympic gold medalist- 8 years past his prime will be willing to readjust his goals that drastically downward? Not that guy. Say what you want about the disastrous pre-Olympic race this year, but he is the ultimate competitor and racer. Actually no, I do NOT think he can beat Grant Fisher at 5K in the foreseeable future. Fisher is younger and better tuned for 5K.

I think Centro will stay at the mile distance for the next couple years, and perhaps retire in the next 4 years.

Agree about no chance at 800M.

Church of the Long Run wrote:

Every serious runner should race a marathon before retiring.

I guess guys like Walker, Coe, Morceli, El Guerrouj, etc. either were not very serious or really missed out by not racing a marathon.

Same with guys like Bolt, Johnson, Moses, Rudisha and many others.

Yes a marathon is different but there is no magical reason for someone like Centro to race one.

He still takes money from sponsors.

As long as they keep paying him to play, he'll keep running.

Where else can he earn money to turn up?

Look at Gatlin. Way past his prime. Always smiling despite finishing out of it. And comparatively he's closer to world class than Centro.

He'll go when the money drops below his hopes.

He has a real chance at the 5000 AR.

I think I was more disappointed by how he did at Pre than in Tokyo. He knew what the race was going to be like, and it seemed like he just never wanted to be in it.

I love how smooth he always looks, even when accelerating, but he just doesn't seem able to mix it up when the pace is fast.

Sometimes it feels like he does not have the fire anymore. And then I see him doing weird stuff like that 3x800 that he did at a meet - where all 3 800s were in a race environment. Or when he randomly did an AR attempt 1 week before he was going to run 3 rounds in Olympics.

I hope we see a resurgence but it feels like the ride is over. I don't agree with retirement. I think a crack at the 5k or higher would be good for him mentally. And at the very least he can get show money at many meets over the next 2 years.

AIIez wrote:

He has a real chance at the 5000 AR.

🤣🤣🤣 No.

should probably buy a leaf blower. might get a good deal on craigslist

then take a more real rest between maxes. and come back and remind the world why he doesnt know how to work one. and keep his mouth shut until after the race.

Off. The. Juice.

Perhaps one gold medal is enough. Really.

Matthew will do what Matthew decides he wants to do

easy answer wrote:

Matthew will do what Matthew decides he wants to do

Translation: Mathew will continue to show off even though he is not good anymore!

Film Rep wrote:

AIIez wrote:

He has a real chance at the 5000 AR.

🤣🤣🤣 No.

He has a real chance at the WOMAN'S 5000 AR

Coghlan did too.