Graham Blanks
{{Short description|American runner (born 2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Graham Blanks
| image = Day 7 at the 2024 United States Olympic Trials (track and field) 147 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Blanks in 2024
| fullname =
| nationality = American
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|April 24, 2002}}{{Tilastopaja|338037}}
| birth_place =
| hometown = Athens, Georgia
| height = 5' 11"
| weight =
| sport = Athletics
| event = Long-distance running
| club =
| collegeteam = Harvard Crimson
| education = Athens Academy
| coach =
| pb =
| highestranking =
| medaltemplates =
}}
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.
High school career
Blanks attended Athens Academy in Athens, Georgia. In addition to running Blanks also played soccer, co-founded the environmental club, and was a part of Model UN. In Cross Country Blanks was a four time All-State honoree, and a two time 1A Private state champion. In track Blanks was a three time All-State honoree and the 2019 GHSA 3200 state champion. {{Cite web |title=ATHENS ACADEMY STUDENT-ATHLETE NAMED GATORADE GEORGIA BOYS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR |url=https://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/poy/assets/writable/58174/2020_BXC_GBlanks.pdf |access-date=January 27, 2025}}{{Cite web |title=Graham Blanks |url=https://gocrimson.com/sports/mens-track-and-field/roster/graham-blanks/29667 |access-date=January 27, 2025 |website=gocrimson.com}}
NCAA career
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/5/25/male-performance-of-the-year-2023/ |title=Going the Distance: Graham Blanks, Male Performance of the Year |work=thecrimson.com |publisher=Harvard University |date=May 25, 2023 |accessdate=December 2, 2023}} 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.[https://flashresults.com/ "Results: Men 5000 M (Final)"]. Flash Results. June 11, 2022. 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/11/23/graham-blanks-ncaa-championship/ |title=Harvard's Graham Blanks Wins History-Making National Title at NCAA Cross Country National Championships |publisher=Harvard University |work=thecrimson.com |date=November 23, 2023 |accessdate=December 2, 2023 |author=MacDonald, Miller}} Two weeks later, he set the collegiate record for the indoor 5000 meters, running 13:03.78 in Boston.{{iaaf name|14884807}}[https://gocrimson.com/news/2023/12/2/track-field-orchestrates-historic-indoor-opening-day-blanks-breaks-ncaa-5000m-record.aspx Track & Field Produces Historic Indoor Opening Day, Blanks Breaks NCAA 5000m Record] Harvard Crimson
At the end of 2023, Blanks signed an NIL deal with New Balance.{{Cite web |last=Chavez |first=Chris |date=December 30, 2023 |title=NCAA Champion Graham Blanks Signs NIL Deal With New Balan |url=https://citiusmag.com/articles/ncaa-champion-graham-blanks-signs-nil-deal-with-new-balance |access-date=December 30, 2023 |website=Citius Mag}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Graham Blanks’ Olympic Debut: In His Own Words {{!}} Sports {{!}} The Harvard Crimson |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/9/25/blanks-feature/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.thecrimson.com}} 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 the 13th men's athlete in NCAA history to do so.{{Cite web |date=November 23, 2024 |title=Blanks Wins Second National Championship as Harvard Enjoys Successful Day at NCAA Cross Country Championships|url=https://gocrimson.com/news/2024/11/23/blanks-wins-second-national-championship-as-harvard-enjoys-successful-day-at-ncaa-cross-country-championships|access-date=November 24, 2024 |website=Harvard}}
On December 7, 2024, in Boston, Blanks broke the 13 minute barrier in the indoor 5000 meters, running 12:59.89. This time placed him as second all-time on the NCAA list.{{Cite web |last=LetsRun.com |date=2024-12-07 |title=Graham Blanks Runs 12:59 5K at BU as Doris Lemngole (14:52) Breaks NCAA Indoor 5K Record |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2024/12/graham-blanks-runs-1259-5k-at-bu-as-doris-lemngole-1452-breaks-ncaa-indoor-5k-record/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}} Two days later, Blanks announced that he would forego the rest of his NCAA eligibility and signed a professional contract with New Balance.{{Cite web |last=Chavez |first=Chris |date=December 9, 2024 |title=Two-Time NCAA XC Champion Graham Blanks Turns Pro And Signs With New Balance |url=https://citiusmag.com/articles/graham-blanks-signs-with-new-balance-harvard-track-ncaa-xc-champion |access-date=December 9, 2024 |website=Citius Mag}}
Personal bests
Outdoor
- 1500 metres – 3:44.08 (New York 2021)
- 5000 metres – 13:12.61 (Eugene 2024)
- 10,000 metres – 26:57.30 (San Juan Capistrano 2025)
Indoor
- 1500 metres – 3:36.11 (Boston 2025)
- Mile – 3:56.63 (Boston 2023)
- 3000 metres – 7:29.72 (Boston 2025){{cite web | title=Boston University Last Chance 3000 Meters Collegiate | date=March 2, 2025 | url=https://www.athletic.net/result/QaiVJgZSwhaEYXASd/ | work=athletic.net }}{{cite av media | title=Graham Blanks Runs FAST World No. 5 Time In 3k at The 2025 Last Chance Qualifier at BU | date=March 3, 2025 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5rbULP6EpM | time=7:40 | via=YouTube }}
- 5000 metres – 12:59.89 (Boston 2024)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{World Athletics}}
- {{USATF|new_id=graham-blanks}}
- {{Team USA|new_id=graham-blanks}}
- {{Olympics.com profile|graham-blanks}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2024 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blanks, Graham}}
Category:American male long-distance runners
Category:Harvard Crimson men's track and field athletes
Category:Harvard Crimson men's cross country runners
Category:Sportspeople from Athens, Georgia
Category:Track and field athletes from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States
{{US-longdistance-athletics-bio-stub}}