Why Grant Fisher will Medal in the 10,000m this Weekend

By: Kyle Markley

In less than a week, the world’s best 10,000m runners will toe the line at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon. One of those runners is 25-year-old Grant Fisher, a man that I believe will walk away a medalist in this year’s race. But, this will not be a cakewalk by any means with names like Kiplimo, Barega, and Cheptegei in the field. But Fisher enters the race with a few aces up his sleeve: he has the fastest seed time this year of anyone in the field and he has nothing to lose. The pride of Grand Blanc, Michigan and Bowerman Track Club standout is by all means ahead of schedule in his athletic career. At only 25, Fisher has already represented his country at the Olympic Games where he walked away with two top ten finishes in the 5000m/10,000m, a feat that hasn’t been seen in this country since Galen Rupp.

Earlier this year in March, Fisher smashed the American Record int he 10,000m with a time (26:34) that put him in a conversation with some of the world's best. Along with having the fastest time this year and the confidence of having nothing to lose, Fisher will have arguably the biggest advantage of all, Hayward Magic. Hayward has been filled with magical moments throughout its history. This new stadium will be filled with the Hayward faithful ready to keep that magic alive, something that Fisher along with every other U.S. athlete will have on their side. Combining Fisher's incredible fitness with the home field turf, I believe he will walk away not only as the top American, but the first American man to win a medal in the 10k at the World Championships since its creation in 1983. So, tune in on Sunday night to witness some more Hayward Magic be made from the future of American distance running himself.