(Bottrop, Germany) - Despite windy conditions, Matt Elliott (Brooks) powered through the final lap of the 1500-meters at the Bottrop Gala in Bottrop, Germany, bettering the World Championships B standard of 3:37.00 and taking second place.

Elliott, who posted a personal best of 3:36.88, now becomes the official alternate for Team USA set to compete at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics to be held in Moscow, Russia, August 10 -18. The members of Team USA's 1500-meter squad are Matt Centrowitz, Leonel Manzano and Lopez Lomong. Elliott will only compete if one of the three withdraws from the team.

Matthew has decided to stay in Belgium an extra week so he can pick up a couple more races.

He'll be running a 1000m race on Wednesday (7/24) in Brussels, then following that up next Saturday (7/27) with a 1500m in Ninove.

from 6-27-13

Des Moines, IA - Off of a slow pace that set the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships men's 1500-meter final up as a kicker's race, Matthew Elliott (Brooks) was patient early on, but explosive and dexterous the last 100-meters to push his way up into 4th-place.

Coming through the bell in 11th-place in the 12-man field, Elliot, a full-time special needs school teacher and one of the few finalists without a shoe company contract, closed with a 51.18 final lap, dodging and passing from lane to lane as the field spread out for the final kick. Weaving through a field of US Olympians and national champions, including World Championships bronze medalist Matt Centrowitz, who took the title in 3:45.17 and Olympic silver medalist Leonel Manzano, who was second in 3:45.35, Elliott narrowly missed the coveted third spot that went to American indoor 5,000-meter record holder Lopez Lomong by .16 of a second, 3:45.69 to 3:45.85, and picked up $2000 in prize money.

Of the top four finishers, none currently have the World Championships A or B standard of 3:35.00 and 3:37.00, respectively, to qualify for the IAAF World Track & Field Championships to be held in Moscow, Russia, August 10-18. And only the top four finishers in the final have the opportunity to pursue those marks up until July 20. The IAAF will allow the American team to send a three man 1500-meter squad, but at the minimum, they would individually need to secure two A's and one B mark.

After a training stint at altitude in Colorado Springs, Elliot will compete in the KBC-Huesden meet in Belgium on July 13 and then the Bottrop Gala in Germany on July 19.

(articles courtesy of the American Distance Project)

Post race interview can be seen here.

A recent Runner's World article on him can be read here.

Men's 1500-meters - Final
Place Athlete Time
1 Matthew Centrowitz Nike 3:45.17
2 Leonel Manzano Unattached 3:45.35
3 Lopez Lomong Nike 3:45.69
4 Matthew Elliott Brooks 3:45.85
5 William Leer Nike 3:45.95
6 Mac Fleet Oregon 3:46.06
7 David Torrence Nike 3:46.26
8 Miles Batty Asics 3:46.31
9 Russell Brown Nike 3:46.94
10 Benjamin Blankenship Nike 3:46.95
11 Craig Miller New Balance 3:48.43
12 Andrew Wheating Nike/OTC Elite 4:01.55