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Md. native Centrowitz joins Team USA, qualifies for Olympics in Rio

Rob Woodfork | rwoodfork@wtop.com

July 10, 2016, 11:25 PM

Matthew Centrowitz, right, beats Robby Andrews in the finals of the men's 1500-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, Sunday, July 10, 2016, in Eugene Ore. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Matthew Centrowitz, right, beats Robby Andrews in the finals of the men’s 1500-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, Sunday, July 10, 2016, in Eugene Oregon. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
EUGENE, OR - JULY 10: Matthew Centrowitz runs to the finish to place first in the Men's 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Matthew Centrowitz runs to the finish to place first in the Men’s 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
EUGENE, OR - JULY 10: Matthew Centrowitz crosses the finishline to place first in the Men's 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Matthew Centrowitz crosses the finish line to place first in the Men’s 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images
EUGENE, OR - JULY 10: Matthew Centrowitz celebrates after placing first in the Men's 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Matthew Centrowitz celebrates after placing first in the Men’s 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
EUGENE, OR - JULY 10: Matthew Centrowitz celebrates after placing first in the Men's 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Matthew Centrowitz celebrates after placing first in the Men’s 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
EUGENE, OR - JULY 10: Matthew Centrowitz, first place, celebrates with Robby Andrews, second place, after the Men's 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Matthew Centrowitz, first place, celebrates with Robby Andrews, second place, after the Men’s 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
EUGENE, OR - JULY 10: Matthew Centrowitz celebrates after placing first in the Men's 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Matthew Centrowitz celebrates after placing first in the Men’s 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
EUGENE, OR - JULY 08: Ben Blankenship, Matthew Centrowitz and Robby Andrews compete in the Men's 1500 Meter Semi-Finals during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 8, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Earlier: Ben Blankenship, Matthew Centrowitz and Robby Andrews compete in the Men’s 1500 Meter Semi-Finals during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 8, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Track and field athlete Matt Centrowitz poses for a portrait at the USOC Rio Olympics Shoot at Quixote Studios on November 18, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
A look at his career: Track and field athlete Matt Centrowitz poses for a portrait at the USOC Rio Olympics Shoot at Quixote Studios on Nov. 18, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
United States' Matthew Centrowitz, holds a flag after he won the men's 1500-meter run final during the World Indoor Athletics Championships, Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
A look at his career: March 20, 2016 — United States’ Matthew Centrowitz, holds a flag after he won the men’s 1500-meter run final during the World Indoor Athletics Championships, in Portland, Oregon. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
United States' Matthew Centrowitz, second from left, wins the men's 1500-meter run final during the World Indoor Athletics Championships, Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Portland, Ore. Czech Republic's Jakub Holusa, left, finished second, and New Zealand's Nicholas Willis, right, finished third. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
A look at his career: March 20, 2016 — United States’ Matthew Centrowitz, second from left, wins the men’s 1500-meter run final during the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Portland, Oregon. Czech Republic’s Jakub Holusa, left, finished second, and New Zealand’s Nicholas Willis, right, finished third. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 20: Matthew Centrowitz of the United States (C) crosses the line to win gold ahead of Jakub Holusa of the Czech Republic (L) in the Men's 1500 Metres Final during day four of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Oregon Convention Center on March 20, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)
A look at his career: March 20, 2016 — Matthew Centrowitz of the United States (C) crosses the line to win gold ahead of Jakub Holusa of the Czech Republic (L) in the Men’s 1500 Meters Final during day four of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Oregon Convention Center on March 20, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)
Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF
Kenya's Elijah Motonei Manangoi, United States' Matthew Centrowitz and Djibouti's Youssouf Hiss Bachir compete in a round one heat of the men’s 1500m at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
A look at his career: Aug. 27, 2015 — United States’ Matthew Centrowitz, Kenya’s Elijah Motonei Manangoi, and Djibouti’s Youssouf Hiss Bachir compete in a round one heat of the men’’s 1500 m at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
AP Photo/David J. Phillip
Matthew Centrowitz hits the tape to win the 1,500 meters at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, June 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
A look at his career: June 27, 2015 — Matthew Centrowitz hits the tape to win the 1,500 meters at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
AP Photo/Don Ryan
Gold medal winner Asbel Kiprop of Kenya is flanked by silver medal winner Matthew Centrowitz of United States, left, and bronze medal winner Johan Cronje of South Africa during the ceremony for the men's 1500-meter at the World Athletics Championships in the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
A look at his career: Aug. 18, 2013 — Gold medal winner Asbel Kiprop of Kenya is flanked by silver medal winner Matthew Centrowitz of United States, left, and bronze medal winner Johan Cronje of South Africa during the ceremony for the men’s 1500-meter at the World Athletics Championships in the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
USA's Matthew Centrowitz, left, reacts after placing third in a Men's 1500m final at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
A look at his career: Sept. 3, 2011 — USA’s Matthew Centrowitz, left, reacts after placing third in a Men’s 1500 m final at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
AP Photo/Lee Jin-man
USA's Matthew Centrowitz, second from right, crosses the finish line ahead of Ethiopia's Mekonnen Gebremedhin, third from right, Kenya's Silas Kiplagat, left, France's Mehdi Baala, second from left and Morocco's Abdalaati Iguider to win a Men's 1500m semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A look at his career: Sept. 1, 2011 — USA’s Matthew Centrowitz, second from right, crosses the finish line ahead of Ethiopia’s Mekonnen Gebremedhin, third from right, Kenya’s Silas Kiplagat, left, France’s Mehdi Baala, second from left and Morocco’s Abdalaati Iguider to win a Men’s 1500 m semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Oregon's A.J. Acosta, right, runs beside teammate Matthew Centrowitz (7) in the men's 1,500 meters Sunday, May 16, 2010, during the Pac-10 track and field championships in Berkeley, Calif. Centrowitz and Acosta finished first and second, respectively. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
A look at his career: May 16, 2010 — Oregon’s A.J. Acosta, right, runs beside teammate Matthew Centrowitz (7) in the men’s 1,500 meters during the Pac-10 track and field championships in Berkeley, Calif. Centrowitz and Acosta finished first and second, respectively. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
AP Photo/Ben Margot
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Matthew Centrowitz, right, beats Robby Andrews in the finals of the men's 1500-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, Sunday, July 10, 2016, in Eugene Ore. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
EUGENE, OR - JULY 10: Matthew Centrowitz runs to the finish to place first in the Men's 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - JULY 10: Matthew Centrowitz crosses the finishline to place first in the Men's 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - JULY 10: Matthew Centrowitz celebrates after placing first in the Men's 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - JULY 10: Matthew Centrowitz celebrates after placing first in the Men's 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - JULY 10: Matthew Centrowitz, first place, celebrates with Robby Andrews, second place, after the Men's 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - JULY 10: Matthew Centrowitz celebrates after placing first in the Men's 1500 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 10, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - JULY 08: Ben Blankenship, Matthew Centrowitz and Robby Andrews compete in the Men's 1500 Meter Semi-Finals during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 8, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Track and field athlete Matt Centrowitz poses for a portrait at the USOC Rio Olympics Shoot at Quixote Studios on November 18, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
United States' Matthew Centrowitz, holds a flag after he won the men's 1500-meter run final during the World Indoor Athletics Championships, Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
United States' Matthew Centrowitz, second from left, wins the men's 1500-meter run final during the World Indoor Athletics Championships, Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Portland, Ore. Czech Republic's Jakub Holusa, left, finished second, and New Zealand's Nicholas Willis, right, finished third. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 20: Matthew Centrowitz of the United States (C) crosses the line to win gold ahead of Jakub Holusa of the Czech Republic (L) in the Men's 1500 Metres Final during day four of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Oregon Convention Center on March 20, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)
Kenya's Elijah Motonei Manangoi, United States' Matthew Centrowitz and Djibouti's Youssouf Hiss Bachir compete in a round one heat of the men’s 1500m at the World Athletics Championships at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Matthew Centrowitz hits the tape to win the 1,500 meters at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, June 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Gold medal winner Asbel Kiprop of Kenya is flanked by silver medal winner Matthew Centrowitz of United States, left, and bronze medal winner Johan Cronje of South Africa during the ceremony for the men's 1500-meter at the World Athletics Championships in the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
USA's Matthew Centrowitz, left, reacts after placing third in a Men's 1500m final at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
USA's Matthew Centrowitz, second from right, crosses the finish line ahead of Ethiopia's Mekonnen Gebremedhin, third from right, Kenya's Silas Kiplagat, left, France's Mehdi Baala, second from left and Morocco's Abdalaati Iguider to win a Men's 1500m semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Oregon's A.J. Acosta, right, runs beside teammate Matthew Centrowitz (7) in the men's 1,500 meters Sunday, May 16, 2010, during the Pac-10 track and field championships in Berkeley, Calif. Centrowitz and Acosta finished first and second, respectively. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

WASHINGTON — Annapolis native Matthew Centrowitz has punched his ticket to the 2016 Olympic Games. Centrowitz, a five-time All-Met runner, won the men’s 1500 meters Sunday with an Olympic Trials record of 3:34.09.

He finished 0.79 seconds ahead of runner-up Robby Andrews — a former University of Virginia runner — and Ben Blankenship finished third.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Centrowitz is the second in his family to become a two-time U.S. Olympic runner. His father, Matt Sr., was a member of the 1976 and 1980 teams and is currently head coach of the American University track team. The younger Centrowitz finished fourth in the 2012 Olympics.

Unfortunately, recent T.C. Williams graduate Noah Lyles won’t be joining him in Rio despite a tweet from the school to the contrary. According to USA Track and Field, LaShawn Merritt will compete in the 200 and 400 meters. Lyles would have qualified for the 200 had Merritt pulled out.

Rob Woodfork

Rob Woodfork is WTOP's Senior Sports Content Producer, which includes duties as producer and host of the DC Sports Huddle, nightside sports anchor and sports columnist on WTOP.com.

rwoodfork@wtop.com

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