Matthew Centrowitz went into the Diamond League meet in Paris knowing he had to run the IAAF ‘B’ standard of 3:38.00 in the men’s 1,500 meters to become eligible for the World Championships next month in South Korea.@@http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110709/SPORTS/107090314/Wheating-Centrowitz-off-worlds?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports@@ @@http://www.kval.com/sports/college/125243054.html@@
The junior from Arnold, Md., well surpassed that notion, and cruised his way to the World ‘A’ standard and the Oregon school record as he finished the Meeting Areva’s 1,500m at Stade de France in 3:34.69.
His time bested the previous school record by nearly two seconds, 3:36.48, which was set by Olympic gold medalist Joaquim Cruz in 1984 and then again by A.J. Acosta last summer.@@http://www.kval.com/sports/college/125243054.html@@
The United States was well represented in the event, with Bernard Legat taking third in 3:33.11, Leonel Manzano was sixth in 3:33.66, former Oregon star Andrew Wheating was ninth in 3:34.39 and Centrowitz took 11th.
All four made it under the IAAF World Championships ‘A’ time of 3:35.00.
While Centrowitz was pleased with his time, he said the physical nature of the race took some getting used to, and because of that he fell toward the bottom of the pack after a fast start early on.
“I think I did a terrible job staying relaxed and found myself out of comfort more the half the race, and that’s not good,” Centrowitz said in an interview with Flotrack.org after the race. “It’s just something you’ve got to learn I guess, hopefully I’ll do much better in the future.”
“I’m extremely happy that all four Americans ran the ‘A’ standard for the World Championships and the Olympics,” said Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna, who will serve as the men’s head coach for Team USA at the IAAF World Championships. “There is clearly more gas in the tank.
“I look forward to seeing how the remainder of the summer plays out for Centro. Wheating will now focus on making the final in Daegu.”
Among Americans, only Jim Ryun of Kansas (3:33.1 in 1967), Seneca Lassiter of Arkansas (3:33.72 in 1999) and Paul McMullen of Eastern Michigan (3:34.45 in 1995) have run faster times as collegians.
In other Oregon track news, graduate Rachel Yurkovich will also be headed to the IAAF World Championships after throwing a personal best 198 feet, 2 inches to win the javelin at the Harry Jerome Classic in Vancouver, B.C. That throw beat her previous top mark by a foot, and exceeded the World ‘B’ standard and secured a spot on Team USA for the 2011 national runner-up.