Joe Klecker, left, and Grant Fisher are among the favorites for the men’s 10,000-meter U.S. championship. Photo by Kevin Neri
The men’s and women’s 10,000-meter U.S. championships will be contested not in late June, but Friday during distance night at the Prefontaine Classic. The decision is to give athletes more time to recover before the world championships in mid July.
Grant Fisher, who finished second last year at the Olympic Trials, is a heavy favorite on the men’s side entering the competition, riding the momentum of what’s been a fantastic season for the former Cardinal.
Fisher won’t be alone — the race will feature three of his Bowerman teammates, including the defending champion Woody Kincaid. Fisher said having his teammates will provide an interesting dynamic to the race, but he was a bit hesitant to reveal any race strategies among the group for Friday night when asked.
“I don’t think it’d be a very good plan if I said it right now,” Fisher said at Thursday afternoon’s press conference.
The top three finishers in both the men’s and women’s races will qualify for the U.S. team for the World Athletics Championships. However, the top three also need to run the world championship standard, whether it be in this race or another one. The men’s standard is 27 minutes, 28 seconds, and the women’s standard is 31:25. Eight entries in the men’s field have met the standard, while the women’s field has 11.
Fisher did say that while they have discussed possible race tactics, they know all four of them will not move on to the World Championships. The situation demands a healthy balance, but that’s expected. While they will be competitors soon, Fisher believes the group’s relationships as teammates has positioned them nicely.
“The people I train with have become some of my best friends,” said Fisher. “I think the team model has been very beneficial for me, especially in distance running. You need guys around you. It’s nice to have people to push you in workouts.”
Joe Klecker, a member of On Athletics Club and a Tokyo Olympian, echoed Fisher’s sentiment.
“It motivates you,” added Klecker. “Training with those athletes definitely just pushes you, and that’s, I guess, what keeps me going.”
Fisher finished second last year at the Olympic Trials, less than a second behind his teammate Woody Kincaid, with Klecker rounding out the top three. Both men recognize the importance of the team aspect, even if the sport has commercially been viewed through an individualistic lens.
“If you look at most successful distance runners… they’ve all come out of group training settings,” said Fisher. “The group achieves much more than the individual can by themselves.”
Klecker views the team component as much more than providing training partners — it gives everyone on the club a platform to grow their own brand, as well as grow the sport overall. The team model works well to engage fans and showcase each individual’s personality. He had high praise for his club’s efforts.
“I think that On has done a great job showcasing us not just as athletes, but us as individuals,” said Klecker. “We’re not just runners — we have lives. We’re real people.”
