Graham Blanks

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.

Graham Blanks

Blanks in 2024
Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(2002-04-24) April 24, 2002 (age 23)[1]
Home town	Athens, Georgia
Education	Athens Academy
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	Long-distance running
College team	Harvard Crimson

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, he was a four-time All-State honoree, and a two-time 1A private state champion. In track, he was a three-time All-State honoree and the 2019 GHSA 3200 state champion.^[2][3]

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.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6] Two weeks later, he set the collegiate record for the indoor 5000 meters, running 13:03.78 in Boston.^[7][8]

At the end of 2023, Blanks signed an NIL deal with New Balance.^[9]

On July 7, 2024, Blanks qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in the men's 5000-meter run. Although he 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.^[10] 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.^[11]

On December 7, 2024, in Boston, he 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.^[12] Two days later, he announced that he would forego the rest of his NCAA eligibility, and signed a professional contract with New Balance.^[13]

On June 12, 2025, at the Bislett Games, Blanks ran a personal best of 12:48.20 in the 5000 meters.^[14]

Professional career

Circuit performances

Grand Slam Track results[15]
Slam	Race group	Event	Pl.	Time	Prize money
2025 Philadelphia Slam	Long distance	3000 m	5th	8:03.22	US$10,000

Personal bests

Outdoor

• 1500 metres – 3:44.08 (New York 2021)
• 5000 metres – 12:48.20 (Oslo 2025)
• 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)^[16][17]
• 5000 metres – 12:59.89 (Boston 2024)