The fields are just much deeper now than 10-20 years ago when it was very top-heavy with Bekele then Farah. Most years then would be an African sweep of all the events, this year it was Europeans top 5 in the 1500 and winning 5k, Africans are still strong and Aussies are there too. Back then Mottram winning a bronze was some big accomplishment for a non-African to get a medal, can you imagine Ingebrigtsen being anything other than pissed as hell with a bronze in the 5k? There’s a lot of strong juniors across the world now, I don’t think any event will become less competitive, except maybe the steeple as I feel the top talent isn’t really gravitating there.
He's so damn good and has been for so long. Absolute workhorse and committed to the sport. Thoughts? He seems on track to dethrone Galen once he hits the roads, no disrespect to Galen.
At this point some could/would argue Paul chelimo has had a better career than fisher lol
Grant Fisher is a guy I currently follow. I'd like to interview him for a story of his career. I'm Anthony Cantwell and I live in Portland Oregon. Read something yesterday about Rudy Chapa asking how he trained in high school. He ran in Indiana was 3000 American record holder in 1981, denied his chance to race in the 1980 Olympics and was my volunteer assistant coach at Marshall High School. The story of his career at U of O, who he is as aan and was as a distance runner is firmly established in history. Today is Grant Fisher day. How and why he volunteered at Marshall High is an unknown story I'd like to publish. Anyone know how to get in touch with both Grant and Rudy
It's a long way to the top for Fisher. Here's how he stacks up against his main competitors:
Grant Fisher
3:35.53, 7:28.48, 12:53.73i, 26:33.84
1x national champion
Galen Rupp
3:34.15, 7:30.16i, 12:58.90, 26:44.36
1x Olympic silver, 1x Olympic bronze, 10x national champion
Paul Chelimo
7:31.57, 12:57.55
1x Olympic silver, 1x Olympic bronze, 1x World bronze, 7x national champion
Bernard Lagat
3:27.40, 7:29.00, 12:53.60
4x World gold, 3x World silver, 1x World bronze, 15x national champion
I didn't even count national records but maybe someone else can do that. Rupp still holds two (3k indoor, 2 mi indoor) and I believe Lagat has four (15 indoor, 1 mi indoor, 1500, 5k), but they both lowered the US marks by huge margins and broke their own (and each other's) records multiple times which should definitely factor into the GOAT discussion. By comparison, Fisher is currently sitting at three total, all of which are obviously still active (3k, 5k indoor, 10k).
Galen 10x National Champion, Lagat 15x National Champion. Those are absurd stats. I don't see Fisher approaching this kind of extended dominance.
Also, Galen has 12 (at least) national championships - and counting - if we include road running (marathon, etc.).
I hope one day we are having the conversation, but until he has some medals or big Ws.. nope.
The point of the endeavor is to race, and win or at least place. Times are nice, time are impressive, times will hopefully get you where you want to be, but give me W's and medals any day.
It's a long way to the top for Fisher. Here's how he stacks up against his main competitors:
Grant Fisher
3:35.53, 7:28.48, 12:53.73i, 26:33.84
1x national champion
Galen Rupp
3:34.15, 7:30.16i, 12:58.90, 26:44.36
1x Olympic silver, 1x Olympic bronze, 10x national champion
Paul Chelimo
7:31.57, 12:57.55
1x Olympic silver, 1x Olympic bronze, 1x World bronze, 7x national champion
Bernard Lagat
3:27.40, 7:29.00, 12:53.60
4x World gold, 3x World silver, 1x World bronze, 15x national champion
I didn't even count national records but maybe someone else can do that. Rupp still holds two (3k indoor, 2 mi indoor) and I believe Lagat has four (15 indoor, 1 mi indoor, 1500, 5k), but they both lowered the US marks by huge margins and broke their own (and each other's) records multiple times which should definitely factor into the GOAT discussion. By comparison, Fisher is currently sitting at three total, all of which are obviously still active (3k, 5k indoor, 10k).
If including milers, Fisher has to at least accomplish what Matt Centrowitz has:
He's got a good start to his career but needs to medal more than once on a global stage to be in the argument. Has a chance.
Message boarders are naturally tuned in to recent memory. Frank Shorter with his resume on the roads, track, and cross country, is certainly in the argument. He beat the greats of his era. And don't give me the "no east africans" argument. Ethiopia had one the marathon gold medal for the 3 prior Olympics before Shorter won in 72 - and he beat the 68 Ethiopian gold medalist (who won a bronze) to do it.
Not saying that it must be Shorter - simply saying that Shorter is in the discussion right at the top with the names mentioned above
Grant Fisher is the fastest American distance runner at 3k-10k we have ever had. Enjoy it while it lasts, because he is already 25 and he is in his prime now. We thought Solinsky, Webb, and Wheating would continue to improve as well. We don't know how long he'll stay healthy. But to be the greatest American distance runner, he'll need medals, and he has to put himself in position to win or medal like Lagat, Rupp, Centro, Jager, Chelimo, and others have done to be the best. At present, it has got to be Bernard Lagat, factoring in solely his American career from 2004 on, counting times and hardware. Fisher may never get all that hardware, but he's already got two of the outdoor records, and the third very likely next time.
Grant Fisher is a guy I currently follow. I'd like to interview him for a story of his career. I'm Anthony Cantwell and I live in Portland Oregon. Read something yesterday about Rudy Chapa asking how he trained in high school. He ran in Indiana was 3000 American record holder in 1981, denied his chance to race in the 1980 Olympics and was my volunteer assistant coach at Marshall High School. The story of his career at U of O, who he is as aan and was as a distance runner is firmly established in history. Today is Grant Fisher day. How and why he volunteered at Marshall High is an unknown story I'd like to publish. Anyone know how to get in touch with both Grant and Rudy
everyone talking about Fisher needing World/Oly medals to consolidate US GOAT:
I find it weird how everyone criticises Farah for medalling during the least competitive period of distance running, but as Rupp medalled during the same period, Fisher is now expected to better that [during a now more competitive period]?
It's a long way to the top for Fisher. Here's how he stacks up against his main competitors:
Grant Fisher
3:35.53, 7:28.48, 12:53.73i, 26:33.84
1x national champion
Galen Rupp
3:34.15, 7:30.16i, 12:58.90, 26:44.36
1x Olympic silver, 1x Olympic bronze, 10x national champion
Paul Chelimo
7:31.57, 12:57.55
1x Olympic silver, 1x Olympic bronze, 1x World bronze, 7x national champion
Bernard Lagat
3:27.40, 7:29.00, 12:53.60
4x World gold, 3x World silver, 1x World bronze, 15x national champion
I didn't even count national records but maybe someone else can do that. Rupp still holds two (3k indoor, 2 mi indoor) and I believe Lagat has four (15 indoor, 1 mi indoor, 1500, 5k), but they both lowered the US marks by huge margins and broke their own (and each other's) records multiple times which should definitely factor into the GOAT discussion. By comparison, Fisher is currently sitting at three total, all of which are obviously still active (3k, 5k indoor, 10k).
If including milers, Fisher has to at least accomplish what Matt Centrowitz has:
Not to mention 3:30.40, 3:49.26, and 13:00.39. A shame he never really took a shot at the 3k in his prime, he might’ve had a 7:30 in him (tho he was never really a time trialer).