RIO DE JANEIRO - American Matthew Centrowitz pulled of a shock victory in the 1,500m final on Saturday, stunning pre-race favorite Asbel Kiprop of Kenya to secure his country’s first gold medal in the event since 1908.
In the run-up to the Games few expected the 26-year-old to challenge for a medal as all the focus was on Kenya’s former Olympic champion Kiprop, who had won the last three world titles.
But after a pedestrian race that was won in a time 24 seconds outside world record pace,Centrowitz held off defending champion Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria to cross the line in 3:50:00.
“Doing my victory lap, I literally kept screaming to everyone I know ‘Are you kidding me?’” Centrowitz told reporters.
“There’s nothing like (winning Olympic gold). It doesn’t compare to anything else I’ve won in my life.”
Centrowitz, who won a world championship bronze in 2011 and silver in 2013, ran the final lap in 50.62 seconds to take gold in a field stacked with African talent.
Second-placed Makhloufi, who also won silver in the 800m, became the second man after British great Sebastian Coe to finish on the podium for the men’s 800m and 1,500m in the same Games. Coe won 1,500m and clinched silver over 800m in 1984.
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Nick Willis, who took silver at the London Games, overcame several injury-plagued seasons to snatch a bronze medal in his fourth Olympic games.
“After 2008, I had three different surgeries, it took me four years to get back in to form,” the 33-year-old Willis said, hinting that he may compete at the next Olympics in Tokyo.
“A lot of people write you off in your 30s. This is for all the 30-year olds.”
Kiprop, who has run the fastest time of the year, faded in the final lap to finish sixth.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/matthew-centrowitz-1500m_us_57b90517e4b03d513688d1a0?section=&
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