Of course. That's why I said we all know it. I predicted his sub-13 as well. This workout shows that he is in shape to do it again, but I think it even shows low-12:50 shape, as I said.
It's a solid workout for him, but it isn't anything earth shattering as far as his PRs are concerned. He's broken 13 and 26. The 8:16 two mile is basically his 5k pace, and then the full rest followed by the 4 flat mile is faster than race pace but is certainly within his wheelhouse. With the full rest between intervals, this workout basically indicates he is either right at his 5k PR or at best a second or two faster.
Actually, 8:16 2M is 12:50.5 5000m pace. Hence, my low 12:50s prediction. In a race with pacers, the 2M time trial pace would extend to 5000m, as predicted by the mile time trial after full rest.
His two mile pr is 9:11. 8:16 is quick. But his 3k pr is sub-7:30, which converts to 8:05.7 2M. If the 8:16 was actually a 3200m, then it's still pr pace but 12:55 pace, not 12:50.5.
2025 7:29.72 Last Chance Indoor National Qualifier, Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) (i) 02 MAR 2025
It's a solid workout for him, but it isn't anything earth shattering as far as his PRs are concerned. He's broken 13 and 26. The 8:16 two mile is basically his 5k pace, and then the full rest followed by the 4 flat mile is faster than race pace but is certainly within his wheelhouse. With the full rest between intervals, this workout basically indicates he is either right at his 5k PR or at best a second or two faster.
Has he finished school yet?
This is supposed to be his last semester at Harvard. Per their exam calendar, he's either finished finals or is just about to. ("Spring Final Examination Period. (5/8/2025 - 5/17/2025)" -
How did I miss him breaking 26? I follow track and field pretty closely. It must have been pretty recent as I just checked the world record list and his sub-26 performance hasn't been added yet.
How did I miss him breaking 26? I follow track and field pretty closely. It must have been pretty recent as I just checked the world record list and his sub-26 performance hasn't been added yet.
It’s not there but it’s on the road to Tokyo. I don’t think he’s even ranked in the top 50 world rankings for USA, despite being 6th all time USA.
His two mile pr is 9:11. 8:16 is quick. But his 3k pr is sub-7:30, which converts to 8:05.7 2M. If the 8:16 was actually a 3200m, then it's still pr pace but 12:55 pace, not 12:50.5.
2025 7:29.72 Last Chance Indoor National Qualifier, Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) (i) 02 MAR 2025
I was going to post I’ll bet Graham is actually in about 7:25 shape, so this workout isn’t as unbelievable as some may think it is. Still a very hard workout but achievable for a guy of his caliber.
His two mile pr is 9:11. 8:16 is quick. But his 3k pr is sub-7:30, which converts to 8:05.7 2M. If the 8:16 was actually a 3200m, then it's still pr pace but 12:55 pace, not 12:50.5.
2025 7:29.72 Last Chance Indoor National Qualifier, Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) (i) 02 MAR 2025
I was going to post I’ll bet Graham is actually in about 7:25 shape, so this workout isn’t as unbelievable as some may think it is. Still a very hard workout but achievable for a guy of his caliber.
Also, it really seems like 3000/5000 is this guy’s sweet spot. Yes he has run both a fast mile and 10,000, but I actually thought he’d go faster in The Ten. First time it really seemed like he’d fully emptied the tank but couldn’t stay with the leaders.
I was going to post I’ll bet Graham is actually in about 7:25 shape, so this workout isn’t as unbelievable as some may think it is. Still a very hard workout but achievable for a guy of his caliber.
Also, it really seems like 3000/5000 is this guy’s sweet spot. Yes he has run both a fast mile and 10,000, but I actually thought he’d go faster in The Ten. First time it really seemed like he’d fully emptied the tank but couldn’t stay with the leaders.
I think he can run anything from the 3k up. The Ten was a little weird. He led basically the entire race. He had one job there and that was to go sub 27 which he did. This winter he went sub 730, sub 13, and sub 27, all basically running by himself or from the front. I think if he didn’t have to get that standard he would have hung back, let the other guys do some work, and have more in the tank
wow. I don't believe Joe Klecker could even pull off a workout of this magnitutde.
Remember when an 8:16 for 2 miles was still a really impressive race result? Or at least respectable..
I remember watching Steve Ovett beat current 2 mile record holder, Henry Rono, at Crystal Palace in a new world-record of 8:13.xx. Now they are doing close to that and dropping a 4 minute mile in the same session.
Also, it really seems like 3000/5000 is this guy’s sweet spot. Yes he has run both a fast mile and 10,000, but I actually thought he’d go faster in The Ten. First time it really seemed like he’d fully emptied the tank but couldn’t stay with the leaders.
Bob Kennedy seems like a fair comparison: a guy who’s best at 3k/5k with the strength to win two NCAA XC titles. Hypothetically, though, Blanks’s best medal chances in a few years could be in a 10k that comes down to a last kilometer burn up.
The couple of guys who have said they’re “skeptical” just seem out of touch and/or really bad at converting imperial to metric. It’s equivalent to ~7:39 for 3k and Blanks ran a 7:29 this winter. Here’s a selection of guys who have run 8:11-8:16 for 2-miles:
Ben True 8:11
Ryan Hill 8:11
Morgan McDonald 8:12
Andrew Butchart 8:12
Andrew Bumbalough 8:13
Justyn Knight 8:13
Joe Klecker 8:14
Kieran Lumb 8:14
Cameron Levins 8:14
Keita Satoh 8:14
Evan Jager 8:14
Suguru Osako 8:16
Ben Blankenship 8:16
Thomas Ratcliffe 8:16
Most of those were in races, where on one hand you add some adrenaline and competition, but on the other they weren’t necessarily running for the fastest possible time. 8:16 + 4:00 is really nice but also exactly what you’d expect from someone of Blanks’s caliber.
This post was edited 2 minutes after it was posted.
wow. I don't believe Joe Klecker could even pull off a workout of this magnitutde.
Remember when an 8:16 for 2 miles was still a really impressive race result? Or at least respectable..
I remember watching Steve Ovett beat current 2 mile record holder, Henry Rono, at Crystal Palace in a new world-record of 8:13.xx. Now they are doing close to that and dropping a 4 minute mile in the same session.