Matthew Centrowitz dominated down the stretch to cruise to victory in the finals of the 1,500-meter run at the U.S. Track and Field Trials Sunday night in Eugene, Oregon. With the win, the 26-year-old qualified for his second straight Olympics.
Centrowitz, a Broadneck High graduate, covered the last lap in 53 seconds and finished in a trial record 3:34.09 for his fourth U.S title. Robbie Andrews finished second in 3:34.88. Third-place finisher Ben Blankenship also qualified for Rio.
Centrowitz competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and finished fourth in the the 1500 meters. He's hoping for a better finish in Rio.
"You know, I was .04 away last Olympics,'' Centrowitz said following Sunday's race. "I'm more fit, stronger than I was. I just have to stay healthy and put myself in good position.''
Centrowitz, running for the Nike Oregon Project, had qualified for the finals with a second-place finish in his heat of the semifinals on Friday, finishing in 3:44.27. Blankenship won the heat in 3:44.24.
Centrowitz joins his father, Matt, as a two-time Olympian.
"Like father, like son,'' Matthew Centrowitz said.