Collegiate Record: Harvard’s Graham Blanks Tops Indoor 5000-Meter List

Graham Blanks proved his fitness in the grass circuit.

Now, just two weeks after winning the individual title at the NCAA DI Cross Country Championships, Blanks did so on the oval. Blanks shattered the collegiate indoor record in the Men’s 5000 Meters with his 13:03.72 clocking at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston.

Lawi Lalang held the previous CR of 13:08.28 since 2012, but it was on borrowed time inside the BU Track & Tennis Center. Fans in attendance expected fast marks and Blanks, along with a slew of other top collegians from the cross country season, delivered.

Blanks went through 1000 meters in 2:37 and followed that up with ensuing splits of 2:40 and 2:39. Once the pacer stepped off, Blanks went to work and eventually closed the final 1000 meters in 2:29 (4:07 for the last 1600 meters).

Ky Robinson of Stanford also went under the former CR and took runner-up honors in 13:06.42.