EUGENE, Oregon -- A phalanx of dudes lacking the Olympic standard pushed the pace off the front in an aggressive and clearly coordinated effort, but in the end, it was four men who already had the standard who crossed the line first. Matt Centrowitz closed in 53 to break a 36-year-old meet record in 3:34.09 and erase any doubts about his fitness after suffering a stress reaction this spring.

Behind him, Robby Andrews made his first Olympic team and Ben Blankenship made his first outdoor team of any kind. Andrews was also under Steve Scott's 3:35.15 meet record.

.@MattCentrowitz closes in 53.95! #TrackTown16 pic.twitter.com/iM0t6QL3kQ

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) July 11, 2016

Jordan McNamara set a hot pace from the gun, and non-standard havers Izaic Yorks and Eric Avila also took turns at the front. Yorks, Avila, and McNamara finished 10th, 11th, and 13th, but they deserve credit for creating what may have been the single most thrilling race of the Trials.

Yorks led at 800 meters in 1:57. By the bell, though, Blankenship took over, and Centrowitz covered every move. With just over 200 meters to go, Centrowitz blasted away from Blankenship, and the only question remaining was who would take the last two Olympic spots.

Andrews scooted around the pack, looking fresh, and made it clear that he had the second best wheels in the field. Andrews grabbed his head in disbelief as he crossed the finish line and became a first-time Olympian.

It was down to Blankenship and Manzano for third. Manzano went into lane two to pass Blankenship with 60 meters or so to go, but Blankenship hedged to the outside of lane two, bumped his hip against Manzano, and closed Manzano out at the line. 

Blankenship is joining his Oregon Track Club teammates Charles Jock, Hassan Mead, and Ashton Eaton on the Olympic team. He did something that no one's done in more than a decade: outkick Leo Manzano for the last spot on a U.S. outdoor team. Manzano had made ten straight American teams for world championships and Olympics, and took silver at the 2012 Olympics.

It's impressive that Manzano was even in that position, and a testament to the extreme degree to which Manzano has always run his very best at the U.S. championships. He lost to high schooler Michael Slagowski over a mile on this track at the Prefontaine Classic, and ran 3:43 for 1500 at Oxy.

In his sixth race of the weekend, collegian Craig Engels continued his breakthrough meet. The Ole Miss junior ran 3:37.66 for fifth.