Manzano Olympic trial lost in final push
MARK GOODSON/THE HIGHLANDER SPORTS EDITOR
Leo Manzano, a graduate of Marble Falls High School and The University of Texas, leads a run with fans on the Leonel Manzano Hike, Bike & Run Trail at the Granite Shoals 50th Year Bash in April. The silver-medal Olympian was seconds short of qualifying for a third Olympics in final trials Sunday.
BY MARK GOODSON
HIGHLANDER SPORTS EDITOR
Leo Manzano’s bid for his third straight Olympics in the 1,500 meters ended Sunday in Eugene, Oregon.
With 100 meters to go, Manzano went for his patented kick but just as he got shoulder-to-shoulder with Ben Blakenship for third place Manzano was not able to keep up with Blakenship’s extra effort. Manzano finished in fourth place with a time of 3:36.62 in the Olympic Trails.
The pride of Granite Shoals and Marble Falls ran a time that was a second and a half off what he ran four years ago when he took the silver medal in London.
This year’s top three qualifiers for a trip to Rio de Janeiro are Matthew Centrowitz of the Nike Oregon Project, Robby Andrews of Adidas and Blankenship of Nike OTC. Centrowitz ran a 3:34.09
Manzano was in seventh place at the 700 meter mark, but made up three spots.
After battling sickness, a death in his family and another sickness that all caused setbacks in his training, Manzano was he was happy with how he performed although he would prefer going to another Olympic Games with Team USA.
“Considering everything I didn’t even think I was going to make it out here, I’m happy with the result, obviously not content, but happy,” Manzano said. “I thought I had him, but I think he saw me and got an extra boost. I just didn’t have it. I had a really good race. I stayed out of trouble as much as I could. I look back at it and I just didn’t have the wheels the last 50 meters.”
Manzano, a 2004 graduate of Marble Falls High School, won the 2014 USA 1500m title with another impressive final kick, clocking 3:38.63 in Sacramento. At the 2012 London Olympic Games, Leo earned a 1500 meter silver medal (3:34.79); the first American to do so since Jim Ryun's silver in Mexico City 1968. He continued his successes winning the 2014 USA 1 Mile road championships at the Grand Blue Mile (4:05.71). Manzano won his first USA Outdoor 1500 meter title at the 2012 Olympic Trials, earning his second berth on a U.S. Olympic team. He was also the 2012 USA Indoor 1500m champion with a blazing finish. A 2008 Olympian at 1,500 meters, coming off of a runner-up finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Manzano also has a trio of USA runner-up finishes at 1500 meters, in 2007, 2009 and 2010.
At the University of Texas, Manzano was a nine-time NCAA All-American earning the NCAA Outdoor 1500 meters title in 2005 (freshman year) and 2008 as well as a pair of
Next year is a World Championships year to give Manzano something to shoot for in the near future.
Also running with Manzano in the final of the men’s 1,500 meters was Kyle Merber of the University of Texas. He finished in ninth place with a time of 3:40.27.
