2016 Olympic GamesAug 16, 2016 by Meg Bellino
Centrowitz, Andrews, Blankenship Qualify for Men's 1500m Semifinal
Centrowitz, Andrews, Blankenship Qualify for Men's 1500m Semifinal
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Matthew Centrowitz, Robby Andrews and Ben Blankenship cruised into the Olympic 1500m semifinals this morning from their respective preliminary heats.
Centrowitz and Andrews finished fifth and third, respectively, in their sections to automatically advance. Blankenship was only ninth in the third and fastest prelim, but had the quickest time among the three Americans and earned a spot in the semifinal.
This should come as no surprise, as the U.S. has seen great success in the men's 1500m since Centrowitz won bronze at the 2011 World Championships. In 2012, Leo Manzano was the Olympic silver medalist and Centrowitz was fourth. The Nike Oregon Project athlete then earned silver the following year at Worlds.
Last summer, Centrowitz, Manzano and Andrews advanced to the world championship final, but finished eighth, 10th and 11th, respectively. In Rio, the Americans will try and earn the second-consecutive Olympic 1500m medal in Rio.
Check out the start lists for the men's 1500m semifinal, which will take place on Thursday, August 18 at 6:45PM CST.
| HEAT 1 | COUNTRY | SB | PB |
| Asbel KIPROP | KEN | 3:29.33 | 3:26.69 |
| Taoufik MAKHLOUFI | ALG | 3:31.35 | 3:28.75 |
| Abdalaati IGUIDER | MAR | 3:31.54 | 3:28.79 |
| Nicholas WILLIS | NZL | 3:34.29 | 3:29.66 |
| Henrik INGEBRIGTSEN | NOR | 3:34.57 | 3:31.46 |
| Benson Kiplagat SEUREI | BRN | 3:35.28 | 3:31.61 |
| Jakub HOLUŠA | CZE | 3:33.36 | 3:33.36 |
| Charlie GRICE | GBR | 3:33.60 | 3:33.60 |
| Dawit WOLDE | ETH | 3:33.98 | 3:33.82 |
| Nathan BRANNEN | CAN | 3:36.84 | 3:34.22 |
| Pieter-Jan HANNES | BEL | 3:35.38 | 3:34.49 |
| Ben BLANKENSHIP | USA | 3:35.02 | 3:35.02 |
| Brahim KAAZOUZI | MAR | 3:35.76 | 3:35.76 |
| HEAT 2 | COUNTRY | SB | PB |
| Ronald KWEMOI | KEN | 3:30.49 | 3:28.81 |
| Ayanleh SOULEIMAN | DJI | 3:31.68 | 3:29.58 |
| Elijah Motonei MANANGOI | KEN | 3:31.19 | 3:29.67 |
| Matthew CENTROWITZ | USA | 3:34.09 | 3:30.40 |
| Ryan GREGSON | AUS | 3:32.13 | 3:31.06 |
| Mekonnen GEBREMEDHIN | ETH | 3:35.50 | 3:31.45 |
| Fouad ELKAAM | MAR | 3:34.96 | 3:33.71 |
| Charles PHILIBERT-THIBOUTOT | CAN | 3:34.24 | 3:34.23 |
| David BUSTOS | ESP | 3:36.14 | 3:34.77 |
| Robby ANDREWS | USA | 3:34.88 | 3:34.78 |
| Chris O'HARE | GBR | 3:35.37 | 3:34.83 |
| Ronald MUSAGALA | UGA | 3:36.23 | 3:35.02 |