BHS Running Sensation Headed to the Millrose Games

alumnus Matthew Centrowitz will take his place among some of the greatest track and field athletes in the world in an upcoming competition. 

Centrowitz will run in the NYRR Wanamaker Mile in the famed 105th Millrose Games on Feb. 11 at the Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center in northern Manhattan.

“I’m excited to be running and it will be my first mile/1,500-meter of the year,’’ Centrowitz said.

A seven-time All-American and three-time PAC-10 champion in the 1,500-meter event at the University of Oregon, Centrowitz will be joined at the games by his father and sister, both of whom will be competing as well.

By capturing the Bronze with his time of 3 minutes, 36.08 seconds 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 indoor time in the mile is 4:04.1.

Last November, Centrowitz turned professional, bypassing his senior season at Oregon. The reigning NCAA 1,500-meter titleholder also claimed the USA 1,500 Outdoor title in June in Eugene, OR, when he turned back eight-time Wanamaker Mile champion Bernard “Kip” Lagat, a Kenyan who has American citizenship and represents the U.S. in competition. 

Running at the Armory is in the Centrowitz family's blood. 

Matthew, a 2007 graduate of Broadneck High School, has competed at the Armory as both a prep runner and a college runner in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. 

He is the son of a two-time Olympian. He grew up in Arnold, and his father is the head track coach at American University.

Centrowitz was a scholastic track star for the Bruins. His negative split 8:41.55 win in the two-mile race at the Nike Outdoor Nationals was considered one of the best races in prep history, and was the best high school time of 2007. He also set the Maryland state record at 1,600 meters at 4:04.09.

Like his father, Centrowitz ran for the University of Oregon, winning the Pac-10 title in the 1,500 meters three times, and the NCAA men’s outdoor track and field championship in 2011 on his way to the national title. Matt’s dad, a member of the 1976 and ’80 USA Olympic Team, ran at the Armory for New York’s Power Memorial Academy. Earlier this month, Matt 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 1,500. 

Millrose Games tickets may be purchased online at http://www.armorytrack.com. Click on to Millrose Games for more information, including ticket prices and seating chart. Note: there is an eight-ticket limit for online sales.

For group sales of more than eight tickets please call the Group Sales at 818-276-6790.