Will Contend for His First NYRR Wanamaker Mile Title

NEW YORK, January 10, 2012 - 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 (3:36.08) 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.

"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.

Matthew Centrowitz during 2011 World championships Athletics in Daegu. Photo: Erik van Leeuwen

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

Matthew has competed at the Armory as both a prep runner and a college runner 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 (2005-2009), 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.''

To see an interview with Matthew Centrowitz from the January 2 session at the Armory go to  www.armorytrack.com. 

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 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winner LaShawn Merritt will compete in the 500m event while eight-time Wanamaker Mile champion Bernard Lagat will be running in the 5000m.

Contender for the Olympic Gold medal and current Outdoor High Jump World Champion Jesse Williams joins 2008 Olympic Gold medalist Allyson Felix and World Champion/2008 USA Olympian Jennifer Simpson as confirmed athletes in the nation's premier indoor track & field event. Felix will compete in the Women's 60m event and Simpson will participate in the Millrose Games' first New York Road Runners' Wanamaker Metric Mile for Women.

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 Virginia, Duke, Providence, Columbia and Albany.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.armorytrack.com. Click on to Millrose Games for more information, including ticket prices and seating chart. Note: there is an 8 ticket limit for online sales. For group sales of more than 8 tickets please call the Group Sales at (818) 276-6790 (818-ARMORY-0).

For more information on the Millrose Games, click to  www.millrose-games.org.