Poll: Who will be the top American in the Paris 1500?
Poll: Who will be the top American in the Paris 1500?
Poll Question: Who will be the top American in the Paris 1500?
Experience, Speed, Talent, Momentum
That's exactly what you have when you look at the follow names: Bernard Lagat, Leo Manzano, Andrew Wheating, Matt Centrowitz.
Experience: Is there anyone more experienced over 1500 meters than the #2 all-ranked 1500 meter runner? Bernard Lagat has surpised us over the past few years after following up his gold medal performance at the Osaka World Champs in 2007 with a bronze medal in Berlin 2009 after being boxed in with 100 meters to go. We know Kip is better tactically than anyone in the world but the question is, can he win a fast race? We've seen 3:32 in his legs the past couple years but its going to take more than that to beat this field....but more importantly for this poll, it may take at least that to be the other Americans!
Speed: Leo Manzano has shown over the past four years that he has more speed over the final 100 meters than most runners in the world. After being in about eigth place with 100 meters to go, Manzano unleashed a kick at the US Championships that punched his ticket for his fourth consecutive US team....more than anyone else on that squad! We've seen it at the NCAAs in 2008, 2009 World Athletic Final, London in 2010....when the kick is on, it is a thing to be scared of! If in position, that kick could give him the number one US spot.
Talent: 3:30.93. You don't have to say much more than that. Andrew Wheating blew our doors off last year when he jumped to #4 on the all-time US list and ran almost a five second PR at Monaco. It had been since Alan Webb in 2007 that the US had seen a 1500 meter run so quickly. With the current American record holder in the field, along with the potential future of American 1500 meter running along side him...could we see a changing of the guards? Wheating couldn't get Lagat (or Leo/Centro) at USAs, is this where his true colors shine?
Momentum: As if an NCAA title wasn't enough, Matt Centrowitz went on to beat one of the strongest American 1500 meter fields we've seen in some time up in Eugene at the end of last month. Centro has the momentum and that's one thing not to overlook. Added to the field earlier today, the collegiate star really has nothing to loose against a field that will potential represent the fastest race that he has ever been a part of. Centro, like the rest of the Americans, are looking to hit the World A Standard to secure their spot in Daegu. Don't doubt any of these guys in that regard....the one thing I wonder is, will Centro look as easy kicking away from the World's best as he did against Lagat and the boys just a few weeks ago?
Give us your thoughts, who will be the top American at the 2011 Paris Diamond League? Tune in at 2pm ET on Universal Sports for LIVE streaming online coverage and then check back into Flotrack afterwards for post-race coverage.
Flotrack Coverage
Universal Sports
Experience, Speed, Talent, Momentum
That's exactly what you have when you look at the follow names: Bernard Lagat, Leo Manzano, Andrew Wheating, Matt Centrowitz.
Experience: Is there anyone more experienced over 1500 meters than the #2 all-ranked 1500 meter runner? Bernard Lagat has surpised us over the past few years after following up his gold medal performance at the Osaka World Champs in 2007 with a bronze medal in Berlin 2009 after being boxed in with 100 meters to go. We know Kip is better tactically than anyone in the world but the question is, can he win a fast race? We've seen 3:32 in his legs the past couple years but its going to take more than that to beat this field....but more importantly for this poll, it may take at least that to be the other Americans!
Speed: Leo Manzano has shown over the past four years that he has more speed over the final 100 meters than most runners in the world. After being in about eigth place with 100 meters to go, Manzano unleashed a kick at the US Championships that punched his ticket for his fourth consecutive US team....more than anyone else on that squad! We've seen it at the NCAAs in 2008, 2009 World Athletic Final, London in 2010....when the kick is on, it is a thing to be scared of! If in position, that kick could give him the number one US spot.
Talent: 3:30.93. You don't have to say much more than that. Andrew Wheating blew our doors off last year when he jumped to #4 on the all-time US list and ran almost a five second PR at Monaco. It had been since Alan Webb in 2007 that the US had seen a 1500 meter run so quickly. With the current American record holder in the field, along with the potential future of American 1500 meter running along side him...could we see a changing of the guards? Wheating couldn't get Lagat (or Leo/Centro) at USAs, is this where his true colors shine?
Momentum: As if an NCAA title wasn't enough, Matt Centrowitz went on to beat one of the strongest American 1500 meter fields we've seen in some time up in Eugene at the end of last month. Centro has the momentum and that's one thing not to overlook. Added to the field earlier today, the collegiate star really has nothing to loose against a field that will potential represent the fastest race that he has ever been a part of. Centro, like the rest of the Americans, are looking to hit the World A Standard to secure their spot in Daegu. Don't doubt any of these guys in that regard....the one thing I wonder is, will Centro look as easy kicking away from the World's best as he did against Lagat and the boys just a few weeks ago?
Give us your thoughts, who will be the top American at the 2011 Paris Diamond League? Tune in at 2pm ET on Universal Sports for LIVE streaming online coverage and then check back into Flotrack afterwards for post-race coverage.
Flotrack Coverage
Universal Sports