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On Monday morning, New Balance announced that they have officially signed Graham Blanks to a pro contract. He will continue to train with Harvard coach Alex Gibby while incorporating training stints at altitude in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The now-departed Harvard star previously held a "Name, Image and Likeness" (NIL) deal with New Balance. It should also be noted that Parker Valby, a now-former phenom for the University of Florida, recently signed a pro contract with New Balance earlier this year.
Graham Blanks will go down as one of the top collegiate distance runners of all-time, especially on the grass. The newly-signed New Balance pro secured two NCAA cross country titles during his time at Harvard in addition to five separate All-American honors.
The Crimson ace has ended his time as a collegian with personal bests of 3:56 (mile), 7:44 (3k), 12:59 (5k) and 28:15 (10k). His 5k PR was run this past weekend at Boston University where he became the second collegian to ever dip under the 13-minute barrier.
After placing 4th at the Olympic Trials this past summer and already having the Olympic qualifying standard, Blanks qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics over 5000 meters. There, he advanced to the finals where he finished 9th overall.
The departure of Blanks from the collegiate circuit now leaves this year's NCAA 5k national title open for the taking. North Carolina's Parker Wolfe, New Mexico's Habtom Samuel, Oklahoma State's Brian Musau, BYU's Casey Clinger and Villanova's Liam Murphy will now be viewed as the favorites to secure NCAA gold in that event come March.