Redshirt freshman Matthew Centrowitz has seen his star rise with every running event he’s competed in this year. The Arnold, Md., native was a part of the national-champion men’s cross country team (he finished in 45th place) and indoor track and field team (eighth; indoor mile run), and his performance in the 1,500m at Saturday’s Cardinal Invitational makes him a major factor in Oregon’s quest for an outdoor national title. Centrowitz won the race in 3:36.92, the seventh-fastest time in NCAA history and the third-fastest time in school history, behind Olympians Joaquim Cruz and Matt Centrowitz, Matthew’s father. He was named the Pacific-10 Conference’s track and field athlete of the week.
Oregon Daily Emerald: What does it feel like to hold this mark?
Matthew Centrowitz: I kinda really haven’t put too much time into thinking about it, just because the season, the way it’s working out, we’re racing every weekend, week in and week out. If you put too much time into it, you can start ruining your races. I’m just taking it one step at a time. I’m looking forward to my next race.
ODE: Did you talk to your father about it?
MC: Yeah, yeah, I called him. It took him forever to pick up, though, because he was at a wedding. I finally got a hold of him, and he was pretty excited. He was kinda mad that I didn’t beat his time (laughs).
ODE: Do you ask your dad about racing strategy at all?
MC: Not really. I’ll call him just to kind of talk and he’ll kinda straighten my head on, but in terms of strategy I just talk to Coach Vin (Lananna) and Coach (Andy) Powell more. They have a good idea of what kind of feelings I have going in and they give me a race plan.
ODE: You will be one of the Oregon men running in the 4xMile relay at the Oregon Twilight on Saturday, attempting to break the American and collegiate records for that event. How do you and your teammates perceive this race?
MC: We’re all excited. It’s this record that’s been around for several years, and it’s such a hard record because you have to have everyone competing well on the same day. But I think we’re all excited, we’re all in great shape, and we’re definitely looking forward to getting in the record books.
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