Graham Blanks has a crucial decision to make

Sub-9:00 guy wrote:

bumblebee wrote:

The guy just turned 23 and ran a 12:48. Grant Fisher couldn't kick with the world's best at that age and now he has two olympic medals. What would be criminal is if he moves up before 2028. Give yourself a chance at the Olympics in the events you think you are best in and then make a decision after that if this cycle doesn't go well.

This. Grant should absolutely stay with the 5000/10,000 for now, maybe run world cross, maybe try a half. Reassess after 2028 and move up then. Guy may still run a heck of a 10,000 yet…

JeffreySinger wrote:

Option 1: Stay in the 5k/10k, run fast times, make US teams, but consistently get outkicked in championships and Diamond Leagues. Never win anything of note.

Option 2: Move up to the marathon. Make way more money and immediately become America’s best hope to win a major and medal at Worlds/Olympics.

Option 2 seems like the better choice to me. Graham is an aerobic beast who seems made for the event. Here’s hoping he isn’t wasting his prime years on events that he will never medal in.

Kickers usually win wrote:

peterpan wrote:

Completely insane from OP suggesting he's not cutting it at 5k and should move up to the marathon, but yesterday's race did make me very excited for the 10k potential of American athletes. Assuming Fisher, Young, and Blanks all stick with the 5k/10k, I could see all 3 breaking 26:20 in the 10k within a few years if they stay consistent and get into the right race. All 3 are great 5k runners, but probably slightly better 10k runners.

At 28, Fisher is the least likely to improve that much during the rest of his career.

Fastnbulbous wrote:

Watching Blanks get 7th with possibly his best performance of his life so far did fleetingly make me think of Chris Derrick. But also Rupp, who was never known for his kick, until that one time he did and got silver in the 10,000. It's a roll of dice to continue in track, and I'm sure he and his coach have thoroughly considered all scenarios. I second those who say why not give track at least a couple more years. Plus not everyone likes the marathon.

JeffreySinger wrote:

Option 1: Stay in the 5k/10k, run fast times, make US teams, but consistently get outkicked in championships and Diamond Leagues. Never win anything of note.

Option 2: Move up to the marathon. Make way more money and immediately become America’s best hope to win a major and medal at Worlds/Olympics.

Option 2 seems like the better choice to me. Graham is an aerobic beast who seems made for the event. Here’s hoping he isn’t wasting his prime years on events that he will never medal in.

JeffreySinger wrote:

Option 1: Stay in the 5k/10k, run fast times, make US teams, but consistently get outkicked in championships and Diamond Leagues. Never win anything of note.

Option 2: Move up to the marathon. Make way more money and immediately become America’s best hope to win a major and medal at Worlds/Olympics.

Option 2 seems like the better choice to me. Graham is an aerobic beast who seems made for the event. Here’s hoping he isn’t wasting his prime years on events that he will never medal in.

JeffreySinger wrote:

Option 1: Stay in the 5k/10k, run fast times, make US teams, but consistently get outkicked in championships and Diamond Leagues. Never win anything of note.

Option 2: Move up to the marathon. Make way more money and immediately become America’s best hope to win a major and medal at Worlds/Olympics.

Option 2 seems like the better choice to me. Graham is an aerobic beast who seems made for the event. Here’s hoping he isn’t wasting his prime years on events that he will never medal in.

ink not dry yet on diploma wrote:

Someone pointed out Blanks just graduated and has run 12:48.

Perhaps that's his lifetime best, but I would guess with a couple years training as a pro there is surely more in the tank.

He's remarkably already close to American record, and can at least see DL leaders and world record chasers.

cvxzzcvx wrote:

I don't see any reason to doubt that Graham Blanks will be in the 12:30s next year, if healthy. His second stint at altitude will give him that strength necessary to give him a chance to kick with the best guys.

Fastnbulbous wrote:

Watching Blanks get 7th with possibly his best performance of his life so far did fleetingly make me think of Chris Derrick. But also Rupp, who was never known for his kick, until that one time he did and got silver in the 10,000. It's a roll of dice to continue in track, and I'm sure he and his coach have thoroughly considered all scenarios. I second those who say why not give track at least a couple more years. Plus not everyone likes the marathon.

JeffreySinger wrote:

Option 1: Stay in the 5k/10k, run fast times, make US teams, but consistently get outkicked in championships and Diamond Leagues. Never win anything of note.

Option 2: Move up to the marathon. Make way more money and immediately become America’s best hope to win a major and medal at Worlds/Olympics.

Option 2 seems like the better choice to me. Graham is an aerobic beast who seems made for the event. Here’s hoping he isn’t wasting his prime years on events that he will never medal in.

Qoooop wrote:

cvxzzcvx wrote:

I don't see any reason to doubt that Graham Blanks will be in the 12:30s next year, if healthy. His second stint at altitude will give him that strength necessary to give him a chance to kick with the best guys.

Well one reason to doubt that Graham will break 12:40 next year is that only 6 people have ever done it and each of those 6 only did it once. So he would enter very select company.

cvxzzcvx wrote:

Qoooop wrote:

Well one reason to doubt that Graham will break 12:40 next year is that only 6 people have ever done it and each of those 6 only did it once. So he would enter very select company.

He ran 12:48 straight out of graduation from Harvard, an 11 second pr. What in your right mind could possess you to think that he is somehow capped before even going to altitude, in his first year as a pro? Nico sure wasn't at this level in his first pro campaign. And we know from his COVID year that Blanks is a high responder to altitude.