STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford senior Grant Fisher was named men's Division I cross country National Athlete of the Week on Monday for his victory at the Wisconsin Pre-National Invitational.
Fisher was honored by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association after winning a stacked Cardinal Race at the Pre-Nats on Madison's Thomas Zimmer Championship Course that will be used at NCAA's.
Fisher outsprinted Northern Arizona's Tyler Day and Matthew Baxter to the finish line in a matchup of three of last year's top-five NCAA Championships finishers. Fisher and Day were timed in 23:48.8 over the 8-kilometer (4.97-mile) race, with Fisher awarded the victory by 0.04 seconds and led Stanford to a second-place team finish.
"Quality of competition and suspenseful finishes are two of the deciding factors when it comes to naming a National Athlete of the Week. So when Fisher outkicked Day and Baxter down the stretch, it was clear who'd earn the honor," said the USTFCCCA press release.
The race marked the season debut for Fisher, who is scheduled to defend his Pac-12 title at Stanford Golf Course on Friday, Oct. 26.
This is the second such cross-country honor for Fisher, who also was the National Athlete of the Week following his Pac-12 victory last year.
Grant Fisher kicks toward the Pre-Nationals finish. Photo by Tom Lynn.