INDIANAPOLIS — Becoming the first man from an Ivy League school to win the NCAA Division I individual cross country title, Graham Blanks (Athens, Georgia/USATF Georgia) earned recognition as the 42nd USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2023. Blanks, a junior at Harvard, completed an undefeated season with his 28:37.7 win on the 10K course at Charlottesville, Virginia. Never lower than 12th throughout the race, Blanks went by the 3K mark in 8:27 and hit 5K in 14:17.9 in fifth place. Briefly dropping back over the next kilometer, he eased back into the lead group and was second at 8K in 22:53.5. A 2:42 final kilometer gave him a solid lead over New Mexico's Habtom Samuel and he went on to win by three seconds. The silver medalist in the 5000 and sixth in the 10,000 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June, Blanks moved up from a sixth-place effort at last year's NCAA cross country meet, and he was 23rd as a freshman. The previous best finish by an Ivy League man was second by Dartmouth's John Hanley in 1945. Other top performances from last week:
Now in its 22nd year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 2023 Winners: January 17, Emily Sisson; January 24, Ednah Kurgat; January 31, Woody Kincaid; February 7, Grant Holloway; February 14, Yared Nuguse; February 21, Anna Hall; February 28, Talitha Diggs; March 7, Alicia Monson; March 14, Jasmine Moore; March 21, Keyzelle Thomas; March 28, Camille Herron; April 4, Hillary Bor; April 11, Valarie Allman; April 18, Britton Wilson; April 25, Brooke Andersen; May 2, Gabby Thomas; May 9, Connor Burns; May 16, Britton Wilson; May 23, Brooke Andersen; May 30, Ryan Crouser; June 6, KC Lightfoot; June 13, Grayson Murphy; June 20, Yared Nuguse; July 17, Gabby Thomas & Christian Miller; July 20, Ednah Kurgat; July 27, Nikki Hiltz; August 3, Quenton Lanese; August 10, Shawnti Jackson; August 17, Michelle Atherley; August 30, Ryan Crouser, Noah Lyles, Sha'Carri Richardson & Laulauga Tausaga-Collins; September 6, Yared Nuguse; September 13, Jenny Hitchings; September 20, Yared Nuguse; September 27, Weini Kelati; October 3, Hobbs Kessler; October 10, Conner Mantz; October 17, Parker Valby; October 24, Biya Simbassa; October 31, Parker Valby; November 7, Isai Rodriguez; November 14, Katelyn Tuohy; November 21, Graham Blanks. We welcome your nominations! To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org. Join the conversation with USATF on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #USATF. Photo Credit: Harvard Athletic Communications