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: 1500m Semifinals

While many of us were scratching our heads wondering why they would make a field of just 30 run three heats of the 1500m, it was supposed to mirror the Olympics schedule. Regardless, top 5 moved on in each heat and next two fastest times to Sunday's final.

Women's Heat #1

This was definitely the stacked heat, with 2011 World Champ Jenny Simpson and 2011's fastest runner, Morgan Uceny, toeing the line. Anna Pierce was in the mix, as was Brenda Martinez and NCAA Champ Katie Flood. Simpson didn't look great in the prelim, but looked very strong today and she and Uceny cruised. Uceny controlled the race from the gun and appeared to not have expended too much energy in the win. The first heat was a little quicker than the second, so Treniere Mosier and Brenda Martinez became the only two time qualifiers into the final.

Heat #1 results (usatf.org)

1 Morgan Uceny adidas 4:08.90 Q
2 Jenny Simpson New Balance 4:09.12 Q
3 Margaret Infeld N Y A C 4:09.38 Q
4 Anna Pierce Nike 4:09.51 Q
5 Nicole Schappert N Y A C 4:09.60 Q
6 Treniere Moser Nike 4:10.10 q
7 Brenda Martinez New Balance 4:10.73 q
8 Katie Flood Washington 4:11.38
9 Renee Tomlin Nike 4:11.39
10 Ashley Miller Nebraska 4:11.49
11 Greta Feldman Princeton 4:12.29
12 Karly Hamric RIADHA 4:12.52

Women's Heat #2

On paper it looked like it could be a race, with maybe less of a clear favorite (outside of Shannon Rowbury). Rowbury did notch the victory ahead of Gabriele Anderson, but there were a few notables who fell off the pace and will not be advancing to the finals: Alice Schmidt, who made the team in the 800, Phoebe Wright, who just missed the team in the 800, and crowd favorite, Jordan Hasay.

UPDATED: According to LetsRun.com, Gabriele Anderson has been disqualified as a result of some contact in the final lap. Consequently, Alice Schmidt is bumped to the 5th (and final) automatic qualifying spot and will start the final on Sunday. Anderson is expected to protest the disqualification.

1 Shannon Rowbury Nike 4:09.96 Q
2 Katherine Mackey Brooks 4:10.54 Q
3 Sara Vaughn Nike 4:10.57 Q
4 Sarah Bowman New Balance 4:10.65 Q
5 Alice Schmidt Nike 4:10.94 Q
6 Amy Mortimer Saucony 4:12.04
7 Kate Grace Oiselle / New Jersey New York 4:12.92
8 Phoebe Wright Nike 4:13.65
9 Heather Kampf Asics / Team USA Minnesota 4:14.03
10 Jordan Hasay Oregon 4:15.52
11 Melissa Salerno New Balance 4:16.33
DQ Gabriele Anderson Brooks / Team USA Minnesota

Men's Heat #1

3 guys in this heat had the A standard (3:35.50) - David Torrence, Russell Brown, and Andrew Wheating. Wheating has been inconsistent lately and did not run the 800m because he wasn't as confident in his speed for the shorter event. The pace was controlled (see: slow) until the bell, and somehow on the back stretch Wheating was towards the back of the pack. He managed to find some space and smoothly ran past most of the field, pumping his fist when he realized he would move onto the finals. Of course the big casualty was Russell Brown, who just looked out of it from the start and finished DFL.

Heat #1 results (usatf.org)

1 William Leer Nike 3:51.27 Q
2 Andrew Wheating Nike / Oregon TC Elite 3:51.40 Q
3 David Torrence Nike 3:51.43 Q
4 Craig Miller New Balance 3:51.56 Q
5 John Mickowski Unattached 3:51.71 Q
6 Brian Gagnon New Jersey New York Track Club 3:51.86
7 Dorian Ulrey Nike 3:52.15
8 Liam Boylan-Pett New Jersey New York Track Club 3:52.18
9 Jack Bolas New Balance 3:52.47
10 Matthew Maldonado Long Beach State 3:52.95
11 John Jefferson Brooks 3:54.52
12 Russell Brown Nike / Oregon TC Elite 3:58.85

Men's Heat #2

Heat #2 featured the 2011 World Bronze Medalist, Matt Centrowitz; Olympian Leo Manzano; and new threat Robby Andrews. Add to them three of the finalists at NCAA Championships, including the winner, Andy Bayer (who had a terrible run in the first round), and it was a tough heat. With a sub 60 second opening lap the pack was again not interested in gunning for the A standard. Just like he did in the NCAA meet, German Fernandez sat on the front for 2 laps before the rest of the field took up the pace. Meanwhile, Andrews was sitting on the back in last before trying to start to move up with 400m to go. Centrowitz looked pretty smooth as he ran in lane 2, and moved up to the lead with 300m to go. Manzano was running tiny stride for stride and the two began to accelerated with 200 left. Andrews pushed his way through to make sure he finished in the top 5, but it was Centrowitz and Manzano who finished 1-2 at 3:41.90 - 10 seconds faster than the first heat.

Heat #2 Results

1 Matthew Centrowitz Nike 3:41.90 Q
2 Leonel Manzano Nike 3:41.90 Q
3 Robby Andrews adidas 3:42.14 Q
4 Jeff See Saucony 3:42.16 Q
5 Miles Batty Asics 3:42.33 Q
6 Andrew Bayer Indiana University 3:42.56 q
7 Jordan McNamara Nike / Oregon TC Elite 3:42.77 q
8 Daniel Clark Unattached 3:42.85
9 Garrett Heath Saucony 3:42.95
10 AJ Acosta Oregon 3:43.73
11 German Fernandez Unattached 3:43.78
12 Stephen Pifer Nike / Oregon TC Elite 3:44.59

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