Nobody predicted the winner of the metric mile at Rio last week, excepting the father of the winner, Matthew Centrowitz. The 26 year old American recently set an American Olympic trials record in the 1500 meter run. He also was a contestant in the 2012 Games in London, coming in 4th. However, this Gold medal run was his first major victory. His father, also Matt Chenowitz, was a runner in the '70's at U. of Oregon in middle distance: 5-10K events. (Genes in play here?) He is coached by Alberto Salazar, a noted runner from his father's era. Matthew trains in Oregon.
His Gold medal at 1500 meters is the US 1st medal since 1908. Yes, 108 years ago. That's quite a drought. Salazar has been under scrutiny of late by anti-doping investigators, but nothing has emerged that has tainted his program. Matthew held on to defeat runners from Algeria, Kenya, New Zealand, and Great Britain. The favorite, Asbel Kiprop, of Kenya, the 2008 Olympic champion, came in 6th as his passing efforts late in the race went awry as he chose to go wide adding more distance to the crowded field of runners.
Nick Willis of New Zealand won a Bronze medal and stayed close to Centrowitz during the final 50.2 seconds of the last lap. Centrowitz had to pass on the inside of runner Suleiman of Djibouti giving him a nudge to maintain enough running room. Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria won Silver. The race time was 20 seconds slower than Centrowitz has run at that distance, indicating that there was no front runner to set a faster pace as the tight group jockeyed for startegic positions as the race unfolded.
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