Andrews Needs IAAF World Standard to Make Team USA, Will Chase Standard at Portland and New York Editions of the Tracktown Summer Series

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

Robby Andrews will be representing the San Francisco Surge in the 1,500 meters Sunday at the Portland edition of the Tracktown Summer Series.

However, according to Steve Brandon of the Portland Tribune, Andrews will be doing more than trying to score points for his team. He will be looking to break 3:36.00.

That is because, despite winning the USATF Outdoor Championships 1,500 title last week, he does not have the IAAF World Outdoor Championships standard that will qualify him for the meet in London in August.

The finishers behind Andrews at the USATF Outdoor Championships, Matthew Centrowitz and Johnny Gregorek, both have the standard and are already guaranteed spots on Team USA. Andrews must meet the standard of 3:36.00 by midnight on July 23.

Should the race in Portland, held at Mt. Hood Community College, not produce a fast enough time, Andrews' next shot will be in the Tracktown Summer Series finale July 6 in New York.

"Hopefully one of those races there will be a fast pace and I can get under 3:36," Andrews tole the Portland Tribune.

Andrews will be entirely dependent on the pace setting abilities of the rabbit provided. Given the goals of the other competitors, scoring points for their respective teams, Andrews cannot ask someone else to set the pace, not even Colby Alexander, his San Francisco teammate.

However, if Andrews can ride the momentum from his victory last week, he might just have a chance.

"If we get the pacing right, it could be a real fast race."

*The original article stated that the 1,500 meters would not have a rabbit, however, the middle-distance events at the San Francisco meet did include pacing.