Sensational Centro En Route to Millrose

Millrose Games meet director Ray Flynn announced today that 1500m sensation Matthew Centrowitz will run in the NYRR Wanamaker Mile in the 105th Millrose Games, February 11 at the Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center.

"I'm excited to be running and it will be my first mile/1500m of the year," said Centrowitz, a seven-time All-American and three-time PAC-10 champion in the 1500m at the University of Oregon. "To debut in the Millrose Games with my father and sister, who will be competing there as well, I can't think of a better meet to do it in."

By capturing the bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, the 22-year-old Centrowitz became the youngest American to medal in that event.

His best time for the mile is 3:57.92, and he has run 3:34.46 for 1500 meters.. His medal time at Worlds was 3:36.08.

"Already early in his career Centrowitz has shown he can race with the world's best so he should be very comfortable on the world famous NYRR Wanamaker Mile and Millrose Games stage," said Mary Wittenberg, President and CEO of New York Road Runners. "We're thrilled to have Matthew race with us in The Armory where he'll provide a jolt of motivation to all of the kids who are in our school-based running programs who, like Matthew, also have big dreams."

Last November, Centrowitz turned professional, thus bypassing his senior season at Oregon. The reigning NCAA 1500m title holder also claimed the USA 1500m Outdoor title last June in Eugene, Ore., when he turned back eight-time Wanamaker Mile champion Bernard Lagat.

"Matthew Centrowitz is the future of American men's middle distance running and his commitment to competing in the historic Wanamaker Mile is great news indeed," Flynn said.

Running at The Armory isn't new to the Centrowitz family.

Matthew has competed at The Armory as both a prep and collegian in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational.

His father Matt, a member of the 1976 and '80 USA Olympic Team and current track coach at American University, ran at The Armory for New York's Power Memorial Academy.

Earlier this month (January 2), Matthew and his sister Lauren were in New York to practice on the Armory's popular indoor track. Lauren, a five-time All-American during her career at Stanford (2005-09), is scheduled to run in the Millrose Games in the women's 1500m.

"I'm well ahead of where I was last year," said Centrowitz, who is making his professional debut in the two-mile event February 4 in Boston. "I had a great month of training in December. I’m looking forward to kick-starting the year with a bang this indoor season."

MORE ABOUT THE MILLROSE GAMES: The country's top men's and women's track & field athletes along with the finest college and high school student-athletes will showcase their talents in the Millrose Games at the Armory.

The Armory previously announced the inclusion of a stellar field highlighted, so far, by the likes of LaShawn Merritt, Bernard Lagat, Jesse Williams, Allyson Felix, Jennifer Simpson and Sanya RIchards-Ross.

Seven-time Wanamaker Mile champion and "Chairman of the Boards" Eamonn Coghlan returns to be part of the 105th Millrose Games. Coghlan will be the honorary coach of Ireland’s "Dream Team" to compete in the Byron Dyce College Men’s Distance Medley Relay against national college power Villanova, coached by five-time Wanamaker Mile champion Marcus O’Sullivan of Ireland, as well Duke, Providence, Columbia and Albany.

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