Like Father Like Son: Centrowitz Wins in Second Olympic Trials

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Assistant Editor

The final event of the 2016 Olympic Track and Field Trials was the much anticipated men's 1,500 meters. And the race did not disappoint. But for Matthew Centrowitz, there was more than just an Olympic berth on the line.

Much of Centrowitz's running career has followed in the footsteps of his father, Matt Centrowitz Sr. They both were stand out runners at the University of Oregon before they turned their talents onto the international stage.

In 1976, the elder Centrowitz finished second in the Trials 1,500, qualifying for the team to Montreal. Four years later, he won the 5,000, earning his first Olympic Trials victory, although because of the Olympic boycott by the United States that year, he did not get to compete in his second Games.

Centrowitz Jr. had an identical first Trials experience, finishing second in the 1,500 meters in 2012. In some ways, this should come as no surprise. The comparisons between the two are hard to ignore. The younger Centrowitz has the words “Like father like son” tattooed across his chest.

Coming into Tracktown16, Matthew Centrowitz was lacking something his father had, an Olympic Trials win. That all changed on Sunday, when Centrowitz Jr. pulled away from the field in the final 300 meters to win in 3:34.09, a new meet record.

The race went out faster than in most years. Jordan McNamara, Izaic Yorks and Eric Avila all spent time at the front, pushing the pace. Only five of the runners had the Olympic standard and this was their last chance to get it, assuming they could finish in the top three.

Centrowitz was not concerned. “If it's fast or if it's slow, I'm going to put myself up in the front,” he said afterward. “Whether they get the time or not, I needed to be top three. I didn't want to leave anything up to chance.”

As the race unfolded, Centrowitz, always a savvy racer, stuck to his race plan, sitting near the front, just off the leaders, waiting to pounce. And pounce he did, with just under 300 meters to go. He ran the final lap in under 54 seconds and won handily.

In second was Robby Andrews. He closed the final lap almost as fast, but came from further back in the field, as is his style. He too went under the old meet record with his 3:34.88 clocking. Andrews racing strategy was the opposite of Centrowitz. Andrews stayed near the back of the field early. “I tried to stay as relaxed as I could,” he said, “and just slowly work my way up, slowly, slowly, slowly.” Going into the last 300, Andrews was in fifth, ready to strike with his fast closing speed. However, it was not enough to catch Centrowitz.

The battle for the final spot on the team came from Leo Manzano and Ben Blankenship. Four years ago, Blankenship was working construction in Colorado while Manzano was winning the Trials 1,500. Last year, the final spot to the World Championships in Beijing came down to these same two runners, with Manzano beating Blankenship by two-hundredths of a second. This time however, it was Blankenship that was able to hold off Manzano's late charge to finish third in 3:36.18.

The team was set, but the comparisons between Centrowitz and his father could not be missed. Just like his father before him, Matthew Centrowitz became an Olympic Trials Champion on his second attempt. However, their paths will diverge later this summer, when the younger Centrowitz competes in his second Olympic Games, a feat his father was unable to duplicate.

Be sure to watch DyeStat's interviews with Matthew Centrowitz, Robby Andrews and Ben Blankenship.