Talent, Desire Put Centrowitz on Fast Track
After Spectacular Prep Career, Junior Pan Am Games, Runner Heads West to Oregon
Some believe Matt Centrowitz, who won a gold medal in the 1,500 meters at this year's Pan Am Games, is the best prep runner to come out of Maryland.
(Toni L. Sandys - The Washington Post)
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Saturday, July 28, 2007
Throughout his senior year of high school, Matthew Centrowitz's rigorous training and competition schedule forced him to make some difficult decisions about his social life. Still, he insists he got to do "the fun things" many high school kids take for granted. He just had to wait awhile. Like until after his next run.
"Hey Matthew, let's party tonight."
Sorry, but I've got to get to sleep. Practice tomorrow.
"Wanna see a late movie?"
Couldn't we catch the 6 o'clock show?
"What are you wearing to prom?"
Um, yeah. Let me see if that falls on a race night.
Centrowitz, 17, who graduated from Broadneck in Annapolis this past spring, did get to do those fun things -- but with one small hitch. "I change my schedule to fit around running," he said. "It's just the time has to be right."
The sheer length of his running campaign made finding time challenging. Most high school athletes rest between athletic seasons; the 5-foot-9, 123-pound Centrowitz was in overdrive for 10 months. Fall cross-country spilled into winter track, which encroached on the outdoor season. Centrowitz's season culminated on July 8 at the Pan American junior track and field championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he won a gold medal in the 1,500 meters.
After establishing himself as quite possibly the best Maryland prep runner in history, but before heading west to Oregon at the end of August, Centrowitz has decided that now is the right time to unplug.
"Right around this time of year is where I look back and give myself 'Oh, wow, that was a great year,' " Centrowitz said. "I give myself more of a pat on the back now versus during the season because I still had a lot to accomplish."
A three-time All-Met runner of the year, Centrowitz's storied high school career lived up to a family name that looms large in running circles. His father, Matthew Centrowitz Sr., is a two-time Olympian, former U.S. record holder in the 5,000 meters and head track coach at American University.
