Matt Centrowitz just outkicked Taoufik Makhloufi and Asbel Kiprop for an Olympic gold medal in the men's 1500m. It's the first American win in the 1500m since 1908 and the first American gold in any men's distance event since 1972. Nick Willis won his second Olympic medal after taking silver in Beijing eight years ago. In that race, Willis initially finished third but was upgraded after Rashid Ramzi was disqualified for doping.



Results:
1. 3:50.00 Matt Centrowitz (USA)
2. 3:50.11 Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG)
3. 3:50.24 Nick Willis (NZL)
4. 3:50.29 Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI)
5. 3:50.58 Abdalaati Iguider (MAR)
6. 3:50.87 Asbel Kiprop (KEN)
7. 3:51.06 David Bustos (ESP)
8. 3:51.09 Ben Blankenship (USA)
9. 3:51.39 Ryan Gregson (AUS)
10. 3:51.45 Nate Brannen (CAN)
11. 3:51.68 Ronald Musagala (UGA)
12. 3:51.73 Charlie Grice (GBR)
13. 3:56.76 Ronald Kwemoi (KEN)

The winning time is the slowest in an Olympic final since 1932, when the men's world record in the mile was 4:09. Here's how much Centro won his historic gold by; that's Willis's leg on the right of the frame.


Photo: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

After the race, Centro said that "My goal was just to get on the podium, I didn't dream of winning." But he ran the entire race like someone who thought that he was going to win.

It's the second straight signature Olympic moment for Alberto Salazar's Nike Oregon Project after Galen Rupp won silver in the 10K in London. It's the third major outdoor medal for Centrowitz, who took bronze at worlds in 2011 and silver at worlds in 2013. He also won the 1500m at World Indoors in March before missing time this spring with a stress reaction.

Centrowitz stayed parked in or near the front the whole time, as the leaders came through 400m in 66.8 seconds and 800m in 2:16.5. A key move came when Ayanleh Souleiman tried to pass him on the backstretch with just over 450m to go, and Centrowitz cleared just a little bit of space with an arm and re-passed Souleiman.

Abdalaati Iguider tried to take the lead with 400m to go, Kiprop tried to snag it with 200m to go, but Centrowitz never relinquished the lead, and with just under 100m to go, finally opened up a half-meter gap on a hard-charging pack. Makhloufi couldn't close hard enough to catch Centrowitz, and will leave these Olympics with silver medals from the 800m and 1500m to go with his 2012 London gold.

Centrowitz ran his last 400m in 50 or 51 seconds and covered his last 300m in 38 seconds.

Here are the full 100m splits. Centrowitz led at every 100m mark except for 1000m and 1100m, when by my eye, he was sharing the lead with Souleiman and Iguider, respectively.


The 33-year-old Willis (who is based in the United States) embraced the 26-year-old Centrowitz after the race.


​Photo: James Lang/USA TODAY Sports


​Photo: Guy Rhodes/USA TODAY Sports