Olympic Trials: Men's 1500m

Leo Manzano, Matt Centrowitz, ANDREW WHEATING Make Team to London!

WOW. What an incredible race. Robby Andrews keeps himself out of the 800 to focus on the 1500, Andrew Wheating has been running pretty poorly as of late. Manzano blitzes Centro. And ANDY BAYER finishes 4th? For a dude who barely made it out of the first round, that's pretty incredible.

Wheating hit the A standard a long, long time ago, but has been trying to pull himself back into shape, and like Andrews, didn't run the 800m. He looked pretty smooth in the final 100m of the semi-final, so I felt like he had a chance in the final. But with a very competitive field, it was anybody's race. Will Leer, who rocked a pretty gnarly mustache, pushed the pace early with Jordan McNamara, both of whom were looking for the A time of 3:35.50. But the pace slowed, and worked to the kickers' advantage.

Of course Centrowitz hails from Arnold, MD, and his dad is none other than American University's Matt Centrowitz, Sr. The younger Centro finished 3rd at the World Championships last summer in Daegu and has really proved he can hang tough with the big boys.

Results (usatf.org)

1 Leonel Manzano Nike 3:35.75

2 Matthew Centrowitz Nike 3:35.84

3 Andrew Wheating Nike / Oregon TC Elite 3:36.68

4 Andrew Bayer Indiana University 3:37.24
5 Robby Andrews adidas 3:37.45
6 David Torrence Nike 3:37.70
7 Jordan McNamara Nike / Oregon TC Elite 3:37.79
8 Craig Miller New Balance 3:37.81
9 Jeff See Saucony 3:38.81
10 Miles Batty Asics 3:43.58
11 John Mickowski Unattached 3:44.17
12 William Leer Nike 3:46.75

Olympic Trials: Men's 1500m Prelims

NCAA Champ Andy Bayer of Indiana finishes 7th in almost dead-heat with Jack Bolas, manages to snag one of the 6 time-qualifiers. David Torrence, Matt Centrowitz through to next round. Daniel Clark had the fastest last lap (55.65) to finish 5th.

Heat #1 results (usatf.org)

1 Craig Miller New Balance 3:41.89 Q
2 David Torrence Nike 3:41.99 Q
3 Matthew Centrowitz Nike 3:42.02 Q
4 Jeff See Saucony 3:42.03 Q
5 Daniel Clark Unattached 3:42.05 Q
6 Jack Bolas New Balance 3:42.14 Q [3:42.131]
7 Andrew Bayer Indiana University 3:42.14 q [3:42.134]
8 Riley Masters Oklahoma 3:42.71
9 Duncan Phillips Arkansas 3:42.75
10 Erik Van Ingen S U N Y Binghamton 3:43.52

Heat #2 was fast, Andy Bayer's time may not stand up through another heat. Robby Andrews, who did not enter the 800m to focus on the 1500m, finishes 4th with the fastest closing lap. NCAA runner-up Miles Batty and NCAA finalist German Fernandez through.

Heat #2 results

1 William Leer Nike 3:40.79 Q
2 AJ Acosta Oregon 3:40.98 Q
3 Garrett Heath Saucony 3:41.02 Q
4 Robby Andrews adidas 3:41.11 Q
5 Miles Batty B Y U 3:41.21 Q
6 German Fernandez Unattached 3:41.33 Q
7 Brian Gagnon New Jersey New York Track Club 3:41.38 q
8 Stephen Pifer Nike / Oregon TC Elite 3:41.47 q
9 John Jefferson Brooks 3:41.64 q
10 Kyle Miller Nike 3:48.81

In the final heat no surprises, although sentimental fave Kyle Merber of Columbia finishes last in the heat. Jordan McNamara runs the fastest last lap of all qualifiers to upend Leo Manzano in the final straight.

Heat #3 results

1 Jordan McNamara Nike / Oregon TC Elite 3:40.78 Q
2 Leonel Manzano Nike 3:40.91 Q
3 Russell Brown Nike / Oregon TC Elite 3:41.13 Q
4 Andrew Wheating Nike / Oregon TC Elite 3:41.14 Q
5 Liam Boylan-Pett New Jersey New York Track Club 3:41.17
Q 6 John Mickowski Unattached 3:41.18 Q
7 Matthew Maldonado Long Beach State 3:41.93 q
8 Dorian Ulrey Nike 3:42.55 q
9 Rob Finnerty Wisconsin 3:43.89
10 Kyle Merber Columbia 3:45.87