American Matthew Centrowitz, the 1,500 meter Olympic champion at the Rio Games, dominated Britain’s Mo Farah, the undisputed king of the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, at the USATF Distance Classic meet in Los Angeles on Thursday night.
The 27-year-old Centrowitz won the 1,500m race in a time of three minutes, 33.41 seconds over Farah, who clocked a 3:34.19. American Christopher O’Hare finished third in 3:34.35.
Despite winning the marquee matchup against his training partner Farah, who holds the Olympic and world titles in the 5,000 and 10,000, Centrowitz failed to improve on the world’s best performance of the year which is held by Kenyan Elijah Motonei Manangoi (3:31.90).
“I am happy with my time,” said Centrowitz. “When you have a four-time Olympic champion in front of you, you know it’s going to be tough. It’s the first time I beat him. It is good for the confidence.”
Centrowitz is using the Los Angeles race as a tune up for the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon which runs from May 26-27.
Brenda Martinez, the 800-meter world champion in 2013, won her race one minute, 58.78 seconds, the fourth best time of the year.
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