Another late kick proved to be the difference for Nike Oregon Project and former Oregon distance runner Matthew Centrowitz on Saturday at Hayward Field.
With 600 meters left in the USATF Championships men’s 1500 meter final, Centrowitz knew this was the point to make a move.
Centrowitz moved past the likes of Will Geoghegan and Robby Andrews  into first, running the last 400 meter frame in 51.95 seconds for a finish of 3:37.25.
“Winning wasn’t good enough,” Centrowitz said. “I wanted to dominate the field. Going into that home stretch, I wanted the race to be won already, and that was the main goal coming in.”
It was his third U.S. title and his fastest finish at the outdoor championships.
“I can’t remember in a long time how hungry I wanted to be coming into a meet,” Centrowitz said. “A mix of finishing second in the US rankings last year, I wanted to retain that title.”
Nike Oregon Project, a distance-running group led by Alberto Salazar, has been the subject of controversy in the last month as Salazar and Galen Rupp, another former Oregon and current Nike Oregon Project distance-runner, were accused of doping.
“Obviously with everything going on, I wanted to win this one for my team,” Centrowitz said. “I wanted it bad.”
Centrowitz, who got bronze at the 2011 Word Championships and silver in 2013, now has another opportunity to win a gold medal at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.
Robby Andrews and Leo Manzano, who placed second and third in the men’s 1,500 final, will join Centrowitz on Team USA in Beijing.
Andrews appeared to fall too far behind to overcome in the last lap, but a late surge propelled him to a 3:38.75 finish.
“Honestly with 200 to go, I kind of thought I missed the boat and my dad is at the 150 yelling ‘don’t wait!’” Andrews said. “I’m like, ‘it’s not over yet,’ and I just went for it.”
Manzano, who has traded victories with Centrowitz in the 1500 every year since 2011, finished just behind Andrews at 3:38.76. It was Manzano’s 10th straight top three finish
“It was a super intense race,” Manzano said. “The last 100 meters I buckled down and grinded through the end. I’m glad I listened to my coach and pushed through the finish line.”
Manzano acknowledged he wasn’t immediately sure if he made the top three when he reached the finish line.
Centrowitz’s victory marked yet another dominant performance for the Nike Oregon Project, following Rupp’s win in the men’s 15,000 meter final on Thursday night. Centrowitz is close to both Rupp and Salazar, and he was asked after the race if he ever witnessed any wrongdoing on the team.
“I can safely say if I ever saw one thing that I felt was wrong, I would’ve been the first to leave,” Centrowitz said. “Like I said, I’ve never seen anything from Alberto, Galen or anyone on our team, or anyone on our staff do anything wrong.”
Centrowitz and company will now prepare for the World Championships in Bejing. The men’s 1500 heats begin August 26.
Follow Will Denner on Twitter @Will_Denner