Oregon has a long history of great 1,500 meter/milers but there had not been a Pac-10 champion in the event since 1986 (Dub Myers).  That was the seventh title in the past twelve years.  Last year redshirt freshman Matthew Centrowitz won the first Pac-10 title in the 1,500 meters in 23 years, won Oregon’s only West Regional 1,500 meter championship and was favored to win the NCAA championships.  A week before the NCAA meet Centrowitz broke the third metatarsal in his foot and finished last in the preliminary round. 

In 2008 Andrew Wheating was unbeatable over 800 and 1,500 meters during the season but Wheating chose the 800 for the post-season meets.  In 2009 Wheating and coach Lananna planned for a big European season and his times weren’t as fast.  An injury during the NCAA final prevented him from getting a personal record for the 1,500 meters.  He helped the team by running both races at the Pac-10 meet and helped the Ducks to a memorable 1-2-3 finish.  Galen Rupp finished second in both the Pac-10 and West Regional meet behind Centrowitz and set the indoor mile school record at 3:57.86.  He anchored the collegiate record for the Ducks, 16:03. (joined by Centrowitz, Wheating and Shadrack Kiptoo-Biwott).  In 2008 AJ Acosta became a three-time all-American.  In the winter of 2008 he finished third in the NCAA indoor mile.     

When coach Martin Smith took over the Duck track program in 1999 he brought a top runner with him from Wisconsin, Steve Fein.  Fein was a two-time all-American for the Ducks.  Mike McGrath ran at the NCAA meet three times in the 1,500 meters/mile during his career.  Senior Jordan McNamara made the NCAA final last year and broke four minutes for the mile for the first time last year. 

Top 1500 meter/mile runners of the ‘00s (top time, UO ranking, indoors, all-American awards in event and years of career)

1.      Matthew Centrowitz 3:36.92 #2 UO a-t, #4 P-10 a-t, 3:57.92i #2 UO a-t 2x XC a-a, ’09-

2.      Andrew Wheating 3:38.60 #7 UO a-t, 3:58.16m, 3:59.11mi #4 UO a-t ’07-

3.      Galen Rupp 3:39.14 #9 UO a-t, 3:57.86mi UO SR ’05-’07, ‘09

4.      AJ Acosta 3:40.52, 3:58.52mi #3 UO a-t  (4x a-a), ’07-’08, ’10-

5.      Steve Fein 3:59.46m, a-a, plus 3k a-a (4x total), ’99-‘00

6.      Mike McGrath 3:43.87, 3:59.25mi, 4^th ’07  and 5^th ’06 P-10,   ’06-‘08

7.      Jordan McNamara 3:42.09, 3:59.87mi, 11^th ’09 NCAA, ’08-

Top athletes of other decades (including other NCAA champions if there are more than one)

‘90s – Colin Dalton 3:59.44m, a-a, ’88-‘91

‘80s – Joaquim Cruz 3:36.48 UO SR, #3 P-10 a-t, 3:53.00m SR, P-10 record,’84 NCAA champ, ’96 Olympian, ’83-‘84

          Dub Myers 3:37.89 #4 UO a-t, #8 P-10 a-t, 3:55.31 #3 UO a-t, #5 P-10 a-t, ’86 NCAA all-American, 4x a-a, ’83-‘86

‘70s – Matt Centrowitz 3:36.7 #3 UO a-t, #5 P-10 a-t, 3:59.2m, 2x a-a, ’76 (1500) and ’80 (5,000) Olympian, 5k US record, 4x US 5k champion

60s – Dyrol Burleson 3:57.6m #8 UO a-t, 3 time NCAA champion, ’60 and ’64 Olympic finalist, 4 time US Record setter in 1,500/mile plus one in 2 mile ’60-‘63

        Ten additional all-American awards by six different runners.  Burleson combined with Archie San Romani, Keith Forman (both two-time 1500/mile all-Americans) and Vic Reeve (three-mile all-American) to run world record 4xmile relay (16:08.9)

Oregon athletes have earned 35 all-American awards and won eight NCAA titles in the 1,500 meters/mile