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USATF Indoor Championships 2014

USATF Indoor Championships: Men's 1500m preview

USATF Indoor Championships: Men's 1500m preview

Feb 21, 2014 by Mitch Kastoff
USATF Indoor Championships: Men's 1500m preview
Note: This preview was submitted before the heat sheets were released. Otherwise, it would have been a one section final for 19 athletes and, well, that would have ended well.

Even with USATF deciding to go with a two section final based on time without making an official statement, there’s still room for more surprises.

The race is now divided into two heats, with the first being an “exhibition” race and the second being the actual championship. Perhaps adding a semi-final was too much to ask with the broadcast schedule already in place (maybe they just printed the meet schedule and didn’t want to waste all that paper), but we’re left with 12 men in what should be something special.

We’ll split our preview into two sections. The first will consist of guys doubling back from the 3k, which is the day before. The second will be milers who will be fresh.

The men pulling double duty this weekend include Galen Rupp, Lopez Lomong, Dan Quigley, Ryan Hill, Craig Miller, Will Leer, and Garrett Heath.

Take your pick.

Since we have to choose one, we’ll go with the guy whose recent form has been incredible. After taking what’s been called the biggest win of his career, Will Leer returns to Albuquerque, NM for the USATF Indoor Championships. Just one year ago, Leer pulled off a sensational double, and took the title in men’s 1500m (3:58.79) the day after he was crowned the men’s 3k champion (8:07.84).

Leer’s performance at the Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile was something to behold. Though he was in the mix, his name didn’t pop into our minds until he made a big move at the bell to join Lawi Lalang and Nick Willis at the front. The next time he was mentioned, it was as he pulled clear for the 3:52.47 win.

It’s worth mentioning that we’ve been petitioning athletes to use the Shooter McGavin celebration for quite some time and we’re happy that Leer has answered the call.

I’m no stranger to picking Leer at national championships, so I’ll go ahead and say that he’ll be ready to defend in ABQ. But who will join him in Poland?

It won’t be Lomong, Quigley, or Miller. Lomong hasn’t been able to replicate his winter form from last year, which saw him capture the Wanamaker Mile title over Matt Centrowitz. Quigley just went sub-4 for the first time at the Washington Invitational, so not picking him isn’t as much an insult as being mentioned with these other stellar athletes is a compliment. Then there’s Miller, who despite just coming up short to Leer last year in ABQ to finish second, still lacks that special something that will put him above everyone else.

Now there’s three: Rupp, Hill, and Heath.

If Rupp had finished the mile at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, these hypotheticals wouldn’t matter very much, would they. But since he stepped off the track, we don’t know if he’ll have that raw speed to pull away from these miler specialists.

If he can, he’ll finally solidify himself as one of the most dangerous distance runners with 400m to go.

Heath has been defying the odds this winter. First, he took a career victory over Kenenisa Bekele and Asbel Kiprop at the BUPA Great Edinburgh XC Race. He ran 3:54.59 for the mile at the New Balance Games (he finished 2nd) and was fourth at the NBIGP 3k 7:37.40, which was quietly #4 all-time.

Then there’s the new kid on the block, Ryan Hill. The freshman elite opened his season with a 3:59.00 mile and 1:50.22 double at altitude. His other race this winter was a 7:34.87 third place finish at NBIGP, which is #3 all-time.

He’s the real deal and we think he’ll make the team.

Still, there’s one more challenger. He’ll be fresh, too.

While he’s hasn’t run a mile this winter, David Torrence has been building some speed and strength with under and over-distance races. His 1:47.46 split in the U.S. All-Star’s 4x800m world record shows he has the wheels. His 4:56.99 third place finish at the Millrose Games 1k isn’t too shabby either (for some perspective, Bernard Lagat won in 4:54.74).

That just leaves the man you can’t discount, Leo Manzano. Picking Manzano because he always comes through in championships races goes against everything I believe in. It’s like how, every year, I say that Leonardo DiCaprio is going to win an Oscar because he’s brilliant. And every year, the Academy Award goes to someone else and it’s not fair, damn it.

I said I’d never doubt Manzano after his second place finish at USAs last spring, but I’m going to go back on that promise. His 4:04.92 mile at NBIGP and 3:56.73 mark at the Millrose Games shows he’s just not ready yet.

Then again, this was the same exact story leading up to the last USATF championship.

Edit: Thanks, Chris Chavez.
Men 1500m (courtesy to USATF)
Name Affiliation Mark Status Declaration
Garrett Heath Brooks 3:38.89 qualified declared
William Leer Nike 3:52.47 qualified declared
Leonel Manzano   3:56.73 qualified declared
Craig Miller New Balance 3:57.69 qualified declared
Duncan Phillips   3:58.01 qualified declared
Pat Casey   3:58.06 qualified declared
Riley Masters Brooks 3:58.35 qualified declared
Lopez Lomong Nike 3:58.52 qualified declared
Taylor Gilland New Balance 3:58.77 qualified declared
Ryan Hill Nike 3:59.00 qualified declared
Jack Bolas New Balance 3:59.35 qualified declared
Jacob Edwards Columbus Running Company 3:59.47 qualified declared
Daniel Quigley Oregon TC Elite 3:59.59 qualified declared
Travis Burkstrand Team USA Minnesota 4:00.15 qualified declared
Josh McAlary   4:00.83 qualified declared
Donald Cabral Nike / New Jersey New York Track Club 4:01.17 qualified declared
Robert Sandlin Jr Bellarmine 4:01.20 qualified declared
Galen Rupp Nike NT accepted declared
David Torrence Nike NT accepted declared
Tommy Schmitz Speed Factory Athletics 4:02.89 not qualified not accepted
Jordan Schilit Oregon TC Elite NT not qualified scratched
Miles Batty Asics 3:46.72 not qualified  
Owen Dawson   4:01.36 not qualified
 

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