STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford senior Grant Fisher was named Pac-12 Men's Track Athlete of the Week after running the fastest 5,000 meters by an American this year on Friday night.
Fisher clocked a lifetime best of 13:29.52 to win the invitational section of the Cardinal Classic, and pulled three teammates to personal records. Fisher is the collegiate leader and No. 4 in the world this year.
Fisher, the 2017 NCAA 5,000 champion, broke his own meet record, by seven seconds. He also moved up to No. 8 on Stanford all-time performers' list. Fisher is on the 10-member men's watch list for The Bowerman, collegiate track and field's highest honor.
The race marked the first time in Stanford history that three Cardinal ran under 13:35 in the same race. Besides Fisher, Thomas Ratcliffe ran 13:32.81 for third and Steven Fahy was fifth in 13:34.80. The five fastest collegiate times of the season came from the same race. Also, Stanford's Alek Parsons ran 13:47.59, another personal best.
Three Cardinal broke 13:35 in the same year twice previously. In 2002, it was done by Brad Hauser, Jonathon Riley, and Louis Luchini. In 2012, it was accomplished by Chris Derrick, Elliott Heath, and Jake Riley. However, in no race had all three beat that standard until Friday.
This is the second weekly honor Fisher has received this year. On Feb. 12, he was named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week after winning the Millrose Games indoor 3,000 in an American collegiate record time.
