Graham Blanks
Personal information | |
---|---|
Nationality | American |
Born | [1] | April 24, 2002
Home town | Athens, Georgia |
Education | Athens Academy |
Height | 6 ft (183 cm) |
Sport | |
Sport | Athletics |
Event | Long-distance running |
College team | Harvard Crimson |
Graham Blanks (born April 24, 2002) is an American long-distance runner who competes for the Harvard Crimson. A two-time NCAA Champion and Olympian, Blanks ran in the men's 5000m at the 2024 Olympics, finishing in 9th place in the final with a time of 13:18.67.
As a sophomore at Harvard, Blanks finished 6th at the 2022 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. In spring 2023, he won the Ivy League titles in the indoor mile and 3000 meters, as well as in the outdoor 5000 meters.[2] He capped off the season with a second-place finish in the 5000 meters and sixth place in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[3] He won the 2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in November 2023, making him the first male runner from an Ivy League school to win the race.[4] Two weeks later, he set the collegiate record for the indoor 5000 meters, running 13:03.78 in Boston.[5][6]
At the end of 2023, Blanks signed an NIL deal with New Balance.[7]
On July 7, 2024, Blanks qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in the Men's 5000-meter run. Although Blanks placed fourth at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a time of 13:12.61, the third-place finisher had not met the Olympic cutoff time of 13:05.00.[8] Blanks competed in the Olympic 5000m, and in the final finished 9th with a time of 13:18.67.
On November 23, 2024, Blanks won his second consecutive NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship, becoming only the 13th men's athlete in NCAA history to do so.[9]
Personal bests
[edit]Outdoor
- 1500 metres – 3:44.08 (New York 2021)
- 5000 metres – 13:12.61 (Eugene 2024)
- 10,000 metres – 28:15.90 (Austin 2023)
Indoor
- Mile – 3:56.63 (Boston 2023)
- 3000 metres – 7:44.76 (Boston 2023)
- 5000 metres – 13:03.78 (Boston 2023)
References
[edit]- ^ Graham Blanks at Tilastopaja (registration required)
- ^ "Going the Distance: Graham Blanks, Male Performance of the Year". thecrimson.com. Harvard University. May 25, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ "Results: Men 5000 M (Final)". Flash Results. June 11, 2022.
- ^ MacDonald, Miller (November 23, 2023). "Harvard's Graham Blanks Wins History-Making National Title at NCAA Cross Country National Championships". thecrimson.com. Harvard University. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ Graham Blanks at World Athletics
- ^ Track & Field Produces Historic Indoor Opening Day, Blanks Breaks NCAA 5000m Record Harvard Crimson
- ^ Chavez, Chris (December 30, 2023). "NCAA Champion Graham Blanks Signs NIL Deal With New Balan". Citius Mag. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ^ "Graham Blanks' Olympic Debut: In His Own Words | Sports | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ "Blanks Wins Second National Championship as Harvard Enjoys Successful Day at NCAA Cross Country Championships". Harvard. November 23, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
External links
[edit]- Graham Blanks at World Athletics
- Graham Blanks at www.USATF.org
- Graham Blanks at Team USA
- Graham Blanks at Olympics.com
- 2002 births
- Living people
- American male long-distance runners
- Harvard Crimson men's track and field athletes
- Harvard Crimson men's cross country runners
- Sportspeople from Athens, Georgia
- Track and field athletes from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- Olympic track and field athletes for the United States
- American long-distance runner stubs