Luis Grijalva

{{Short description|Guatemalan long-distance runner (born 1999)}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Luis Grijalva

| image = Luis Grijalva in the 5000m final at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.jpg

| image_size = 250

| caption = Grijalva competing at the 2023 World Athletics Championships – Men's 5000 metres.

| full_name = Luis Miguel Grijalva

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|4|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Guatemala City, Guatemala{{cite web |url=https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2022/07/26/nau-luis-grijalva-abdihamid-nur-mens-5000-meter-world-track-championships/ |title='We showed them what we're about': NAU's Grijalva, Nur compete in track world championships |publisher=Cronkite News |author=David Veenstra |date=26 July 2022 |access-date=27 October 2023}}

| hometown = Fairfield, California, U.S.

| alma_mater =

| height =

| weight =

| sport = Athletics

| event = {{ubl|1500 metres|3000 metres|5000 metres}}

| universityteam = Northern Arizona Lumberjacks

| club =

| team =

| turnedpro =

| coach = Mike Smith

| pb = {{ubl

|Outdoor [https://worldathletics.org/athletes/guatemala/luis-grijalva-14749285 Luis Grijalva at World Athletics]

|1500 m: 3:35.32 (Mission Viejo 2021)

|One mile: 4:02.64 {{AthAbbr|NR}} (San Francisco 2017)

|3000 m: 7:29.43 {{AthAbbr|NR}} (Eugene 2023)

|5000 m: 12:50.58 {{AthAbbr|NR}} (Oslo 2024)

|10,000 m: 27:26.02 {{AthAbbr|NR}} (San Juan Capistrano 2024)

|Indoor

|1500 m: 3:41.11{{AthAbbr|i}} {{AthAbbr|NR}} (Spokane 2022)

|One mile: 3:53.53{{AthAbbr|i}} {{AthAbbr|NR}} (Boston 2023)

|3000 m: 7:33.86{{AthAbbr|i}} {{AthAbbr|NR}} (New York 2023)

|5000 m: 13:29.74{{AthAbbr|i}} {{AthAbbr|NR}} (Boston 2020)

}}

| show-medals =

| medaltemplates =

| medaltemplates-title =

}}

Luis Miguel Grijalva (born 10 April 1999) is a Guatemalan long-distance runner. Born in Guatemala, he attended Armijo High School in Fairfield, California,{{cite web |url=https://nauathletics.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/luis-grijalva/4894 |title=Luis Grijalva - Track & Field |publisher=Northern Arizona University |work=NAUathletics.com |accessdate=14 June 2021}} where he was a state champion in cross country and track. He competed for Northern Arizona University from 2017 to 2021, securing multiple All-American finishes in the NCAA. In 2021, Grijalva began competing professionally, sponsored by Hoka One One. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, he finished 12th in the 5000m. He also finished fourth in the 5000m at both the 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships.

Running career

= High school and college =

Grijalva was a state champion in cross country while attending Armijo High School, winning Division 1 of the 2016 CIF State Cross Country Championships.{{Cite web |title=CIF State Cross Country Championships 2016 - D1 Boys |url=https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/248295-cif-state-cross-country-championships-2016/results/490203/formatted |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027180137/https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/248295-cif-state-cross-country-championships-2016/results/490203/formatted |archive-date=27 October 2023 |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=California MileSplit |language=en}} He was also an All-American at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Daily Republic |date=10 December 2016 |title=Grijalva 13th at Nationals, earns All-American honors |url=https://www.dailyrepublic.com/sports/grijalva-13th-at-nationals-earns-all-american-honors/article_68f6721d-fb73-5f38-9392-4ff7a51fa4a4.html |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=DailyRepublic.com |language=en}} On the track, Grijalva won the 1600m state championship in 2017, and he recorded high school personal bests of 4:02 in the mile and 8:46 for 2 miles. His senior year, Grijalva signed a letter of intent to compete for Northern Arizona University (NAU), beginning in fall 2017.{{Cite web |last=Lomtong |first=Marcus |date=12 April 2017 |title=Grijalva signs letter of intent to reigning NCAA champ Northern Arizona |url=https://www.dailyrepublic.com/sports/grijalva-signs-letter-of-intent-to-reigning-ncaa-champ-northern-arizona/article_7aa4dd4f-f97a-5183-aad4-b3bbbbeef6a8.html |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=DailyRepublic.com |language=en}}

While at NAU, Grijalva raced four times in the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, improving from a 60th-place finish his freshman year to a 9th-place finish his senior year.{{Cite web |title=TFRRS | Luis Grijalva – Track and Field Results & Statistics |url=https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/6587949/Northern_Arizona/Luis_Grijalva.html |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=www.tfrrs.org}} His efforts helped lead the school to three national titles.{{Cite web |last=Gault |first=Jonathan |title=Conner Mantz Ends American Drought, NAU Men Reassert Themselves As Kings At 2020 NCAA Cross Country Championships |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2021/03/conner-mantz-ends-the-american-drought-nau-men-reassert-themselves-as-kings-at-2020-ncaa-cross-country-championships/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}} On the track, Grijalva primarily specialized in the 5000m. In his final collegiate race, he finished second in the 2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, behind Cooper Teare.{{Cite web |last=Gault |first=Jonathan |title=5,000: Cooper Teare (13:12.27) wins a deserved NCAA title in a super fast race |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2021/06/5000-cooper-teare-1312-27-wins-a-deserved-ncaa-title-in-a-super-fast-race/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}} His time of 13:13.14 was among the top 5 fastest times ever run by a collegian in the event,{{Cite web |title=Collegiate Track & Field All-Time Best Marks: USTFCCCA as of 27 October 2023 |url=https://www.ustfccca.org/records-lists/outdoor-collegiate-all-time-bests |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027173424/https://www.ustfccca.org/records-lists/outdoor-collegiate-all-time-bests?top=25&event=11 |archive-date=27 October 2023 |access-date=27 October 2023 |language=en-US}} and it surpassed the Olympic standard of 13:13.50.

File:2018 NCAA Track and Field West Preliminary 274 (41716800934).jpg

= Professional =

== 2021 ==

In June 2021, Grijalva turned professional after securing a sponsorship deal with shoe company HOKA ONE ONE, and he remained in Flagstaff, Arizona to continue training under his college coach, Mike Smith.{{Cite web |title=Grijalva, a 'dreamer' full of dreams | News | Oregon 22 | World Athletics Championships |url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-championships/world-athletics-championships-oregon-2022-7137279/news/feature/luis-grijalva-guatemala-distance-runner |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=worldathletics.org|date=24 July 2022|last=Dieste|first=Laurent}} He was slated to represent Guatemala in the 5000 m of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in August. However, his status as a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient posed challenges for his travel outside the United States, as DACA beneficiaries risk denial of reentry if they leave the country.{{Cite news |last=Browning |first=Kellen |date=26 July 2021 |title=A Runner's Olympic Dream Was in Doubt Because of His DACA Status |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/26/sports/luis-grijalva-runner-guatemala-daca-olympics.html |access-date=27 October 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Gault |first=Jonathan |title=DACA Status Could Destroy This Runner's Olympic Dream |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2021/07/daca-status-could-destroy-luis-grijalvas-2020-olympic-dream/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}} This situation garnered national attention. Ultimately, Grivalija received special permission from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to leave and compete. He went on to finish in 12th place in the 5000 m final.

== 2022 ==

Grijalva competed internationally in June over 3000 m on the Diamond League, running to a time of 7:38.67 and a sixth-place finish in Stockholm, Sweden.{{Cite web |last=LetsRun.com |title=Full Results for 2022 Bauhaus Galan -- Stockholm Diamond League Results |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2022/06/full-results-for-2022-bauhas-galan-stocholm-diamond-league/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}} He also contested the 5000 m at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway, finishing eleventh.{{Cite web |last=LetsRun.com |title=Full Results for 2022 Bislett Games -- Oslo Diamond League |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2022/06/full-results-for-2022-bislett-games-oslo-diamond-league/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}} In July, Grijalva represented Guatemala at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. His time of 13:10.44 led him to a fourth-place finish.{{Cite web |title=5000 Metres Result | World Athletics Championships, Oregon 2022 |url=https://worldathletics.org/results/world-athletics-championships/2022/world-athletics-championships-oregon-2022-7137279/men/5000-metres/final/result |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=worldathletics.org |language=en}}

== 2023 ==

File:WKBO4601 5000m M Aregawi Grijalva (53173093356).jpg in Budapest, Hungary.]]

Grijalva competed in several European races during June and July, including at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea meet in Italy. At that Diamond League event, he ran a new personal best of 12:52.97 for 5000 m, earning him third place.{{Cite web |last=LetsRun.com |date=2 June 2023 |title=2023 Florence DL Recap: 13 Men Break 13:00 as Fred Kerley Keeps Rolling |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2023/06/2023-florence-dl-recap-13-men-break-1300-as-fred-kerley-kerley-keeps-rolling/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}} Later that summer, Grijalva represented Guatemala at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He placed 4th for the second time in the 5000 m of a global championship, just 0.22 second shy of bronze medalist Jacob Krop of Kenya.{{Cite web |last=LetsRun.com |date=27 August 2023 |title=Jakob Ingebrigtsen Leaves It Late, Repeats as 5000m World Champion |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2023/08/jakob-ingebrigtsen-leaves-it-late-repeats-as-5000m-world-champion/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}}

On 17 September, he competed in the 3000 m of the Diamond League Final in Eugene, Oregon. His time of 7:29.43, en route to a seventh-place finish, was another national record for the Guatemalan.{{Cite web |title=Prefontaine Classic | Results | World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7154217?eventId=10229607&gender=M |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027180845/https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7154217?eventId=10229607&gender=M |archive-date=27 October 2023 |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=worldathletics.org}}

= 2024 =

In March, Grijalva competed at The TEN in San Juan Capistrano, setting a new Guatemalan national record of 27:26.02.{{cite web|url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2024/03/the-ten-full-results-2024/|title=The TEN – Full Results 2024|website=Letsrun.com|last=Johnson|first=Robert|date=17 March 2024|access-date=26 January 2025}} He improved his own Guatemalan national record in the 5000 m at the Oslo Diamond League, running 12:50.58 to finish sixth.{{cite web|url=https://citiusmag.com/articles/bislett-games-2024-5000m-recap|title=The Incredible Depth Of The Bislett Games 5000m|last=Corbett|first=Owen|website=Citius Mag|date=1 June 2024|access-date=26 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601160620/https://citiusmag.com/articles/bislett-games-2024-5000m-recap|archive-date=1 June 2024|url-status=live}} On 2 June, Grijalva continued his good form by finishing third over 3000 m at the Stockholm Diamond League in 7:33.96.{{cite web|url=https://stockholm.diamondleague.com/archive/2024/stockholm/ATHM3000M---DIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73C1_1.0.PDF|title=2024 Stockholm Diamond League - Results - 3000m Men|website=stockholm.diamondleague.com|date=2 June 2024|access-date=26 January 2025}}

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Grijalva finished sixteenth in his heat, not qualifying him for the final.{{cite web|url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/olympic-games/paris24/results/men/5000-metres/heats/result|title=5000 Metres men - Heats - Results|website=World Athletics|access-date=26 January 2025}}

In October, it was announced that he had signed up for the inaugural season of the Michael Johnson founded Grand Slam Track.{{cite web|url=https://www.flotrack.org/articles/12926457-grand-slam-track-adds-ten-new-talents-to-its-star-studded-roster|title=Grand Slam Track Adds Ten New Talents to Its Star-Studded Roster|publisher=FloTrack|accessdate=21 December 2024}}

Personal life

Grijalva's family emigrated to the United States from Guatemala in 2000, when he was a year old.{{Cite web |last=Forero |first=Nicole |title=I'm an Olympic athlete and a DACA recipient. Because of my status, I never thought I would be able to leave the US to compete at the Tokyo Olympics. |url=https://www.insider.com/luis-grijalva-daca-recipient-olympics-athlete-track-dreamers-2022-10 |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=Insider |language=en-US}} They initially moved to New York, before setting in Fairfield, California. When Grijalva was 13 years old, his two older brothers became involved in gang-related activity and were deported. He credits running with helping him to stay focused on his education.

Achievements

All statistics from athlete's profile on World Athletics.

= Personal bests =

class="wikitable sortable"

!Surface

!Event

!Time

!Date

!Venue

!Notes

rowspan="5" |Outdoor track

|1500m

| align="center" |3:35.32

| align="center" |July 18, 2021

|Ogden, Utah

One mile

| align="center" |4:02.64

| align="center" |July 29, 2017

|Mission Viejo, California

| rowspan="2" |NR

3000m

| align="center" |7:29.43

| align="center" |September 17, 2023

|Hayward Field

Two Miles

|8:21.98

|August 21, 2021

|Hayward Field

|NB

5000m

| align="center" |12:50.58

| align="center" |May 30, 2024

|Bislett Stadium, Oslo

|NR

rowspan="4" |Indoor track

|1500m

| align="center" |3:41.11

| align="center" |February 11, 2022

|The Podium

| rowspan="4" |NR

One mile

| align="center" |3:53.53

| align="center" |January 27, 2023

|Boston University

3000m

| align="center" |7:33.86

| align="center" |February 11, 2023

|The Armory

5000m

| align="center" |13:29.74

| align="center" |January 24, 2020

|Boston University

=International competitions=

{{AchievementTable\|Event=yes\|Time=yes\|NotesOff=yes}}
colspan=6\|Representing {{Flagu\|Guatemala}}
2021 \|Olympic Games \|National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan \|12th \|5000 m \|13:10.09
2022 \|World Championships \|Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, USA \|4th \|5000 m \|13:10.44
2023 \|World Championships \|Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ, Budapest, Hungary \|4th \|5000 m \|13:12.50
2024 \|Olympic Games \|Stade de Paris, Paris, France \|16th (heat) \|5000 m \|13:58.81

colspan=6|Representing {{Flagu|Guatemala}}

2021

|Olympic Games

|National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan

|12th

|5000 m

|13:10.09

2022

|World Championships

|Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, USA

|4th

|5000 m