Matt Centrowitz
Encyclopedia
Matthew Centrowitz is a two-time Olympic distance runner, a four-time United States champion, a collegiate All-American, a nationally renowned high school athlete, and a collegiate cross country and track coach.
He is 6 feet 1 inch (186 cm) tall and weighs 170 pounds (77.1 kg).
, where he won state championships in the 800 m, one mile and two mile events and became the first New Yorker to break nine minutes in the two mile run (8:56.00). In 1973 (his senior year), he was ranked as the country's number one high school mile runner. He has the fourth best all-time 1500 m time of 3:43.4 and still holds the state record in the 1500 m and mile events.
He attended the University of Oregon
. In 1976, he broke Steve Prefontaine
's 1500 m school record, running 3:36.7. He was on the Ducks' 1977 NCAA Cross Country Championship team and graduated from Oregon in 1978.
Centrowitz was a member of the US Olympic Team in 1976 and 1980, competing in the 1500 m. He won a gold medal in the 5000 m run at the 1979 Pan-American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and followed that with four United States national championships in the 5000 m run from 1979–82. In 1982, he set the American record in the 5000 m with a time of 13:12.91, which is still sixth-best all-time.
He has been the track coach for the Reebok Enclave, in charge of training distance runners who tried out for the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Team. He has coached three Olympians: David Strang
, John Trautman and Jen Rhines
; and 1993 U.S. 1500 m Champion Bill Burke. Centrowitz is a member of the U.S. Olympic Development Committee
.
Centrowitz began his coaching career as an assistant track coach at St. John's University (New York). He restarted the track program at American University
in 1999, becoming the cross-country and track coach. Centrowitz has coached seven All-American runners. In 2001–02, his athletes captured nine Patriot League
titles in track and field, earned seventeen All-League honors, two All-Region honors and one All-East award. In 2003–04, both the men's and women's cross country teams captured league titles, five of the six Athletes of the Meet, twenty First-Team All-League selections and nine Second-Team All-League selections. In 2004–05, the men's cross country team won its third straight Patriot League title.
. His daughter Lauren was a runner for Stanford University
, and his son Matthew
is also an accomplished distance runner, in high school for Broadneck High School
and in college for the University of Oregon Ducks, his father's alma mater. Matthew Junior became the 2011 United States Champion in the 1500 metres
and the 2011 World Championships Bronze medalist in the 1500 metres
.
He is 6 feet 1 inch (186 cm) tall and weighs 170 pounds (77.1 kg).
Biography
Matt Centrowitz was born in New York, New York USA. He attended Power Memorial AcademyPower Memorial Academy
Power Memorial Academy was an all-boys Catholic high school in New York, New York, USA that existed from 1931 through 1984. It was a basketball powerhouse, producing several NBA players including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Len Elmore, Mario Elie, Chris Mullin, NBA referee Dick Bavetta and a record...
, where he won state championships in the 800 m, one mile and two mile events and became the first New Yorker to break nine minutes in the two mile run (8:56.00). In 1973 (his senior year), he was ranked as the country's number one high school mile runner. He has the fourth best all-time 1500 m time of 3:43.4 and still holds the state record in the 1500 m and mile events.
He attended the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. In 1976, he broke Steve Prefontaine
Steve Prefontaine
Steve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine was an American middle and long-distance runner. Prefontaine once held the American record in the seven distance track events from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters...
's 1500 m school record, running 3:36.7. He was on the Ducks' 1977 NCAA Cross Country Championship team and graduated from Oregon in 1978.
Centrowitz was a member of the US Olympic Team in 1976 and 1980, competing in the 1500 m. He won a gold medal in the 5000 m run at the 1979 Pan-American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and followed that with four United States national championships in the 5000 m run from 1979–82. In 1982, he set the American record in the 5000 m with a time of 13:12.91, which is still sixth-best all-time.
He has been the track coach for the Reebok Enclave, in charge of training distance runners who tried out for the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Team. He has coached three Olympians: David Strang
David Strang
David Strang is a former British middle distance runner who won a gold medal at the 1994 European Indoor Championships in Athletics in Paris and a silver medal at the 1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Toronto over 1500 m.-External links:...
, John Trautman and Jen Rhines
Jennifer Rhines
Jennifer Rhines is an American long-distance runner who competes in track, cross country and road running events. She has competed in three different Summer Olympics....
; and 1993 U.S. 1500 m Champion Bill Burke. Centrowitz is a member of the U.S. Olympic Development Committee
United States Olympic Committee
The United States Olympic Committee is a non-profit organization that serves as the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States and coordinates the relationship between the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency and various...
.
Centrowitz began his coaching career as an assistant track coach at St. John's University (New York). He restarted the track program at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in 1999, becoming the cross-country and track coach. Centrowitz has coached seven All-American runners. In 2001–02, his athletes captured nine Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
titles in track and field, earned seventeen All-League honors, two All-Region honors and one All-East award. In 2003–04, both the men's and women's cross country teams captured league titles, five of the six Athletes of the Meet, twenty First-Team All-League selections and nine Second-Team All-League selections. In 2004–05, the men's cross country team won its third straight Patriot League title.
Awards and honors
Centrowitz was inducted into the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame with the other members of the 1977 University of Oregon Cross Country team in 1998. In 2005, he was named Mid-Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year.Personal life
Matt Centrowitz and his wife Beverly have three children and live in Annapolis, MarylandAnnapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. His daughter Lauren was a runner for Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, and his son Matthew
Matthew Centrowitz, Jr.
Matthew Centrowitz, Jr. is an American track and field athlete. He won a bronze medal in the 1500 meters at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics.-Career:...
is also an accomplished distance runner, in high school for Broadneck High School
Broadneck High School
Broadneck High School is a school in the United States, located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland on Green Holly Drive, in the city of Annapolis and next to the town of Arnold. The Bruin is the school's mascot...
and in college for the University of Oregon Ducks, his father's alma mater. Matthew Junior became the 2011 United States Champion in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
and the 2011 World Championships Bronze medalist in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
.