Not Dawg-related, but Athens-related. Graham Blanks, who grew up in Athens & graduated from Athens Academy and is a rising senior at Harvard, qualified for the Olympic final in the 5000 meters after finishing 6th in his semifinal race (top 8 in 2 heats qualified). Crazy race, there was a NASCAR-style pileup coming down the final straightaway that luckily Graham was in front of. A few of the guys that got caught up in it were awarded spots in the final as well, which is on Saturday at 2:00 PM Eastern.
I grew up with his mom & uncle, and his grandmother worked in the athletic department for many years. Great family and great kid. He won the NCAA cross country championship in the fall, but was then injured for much of the spring season, leaving him unable to train. But now hopefully he's getting back to full fitness and peaking at the right time. He's not expected to medal or anything, but just making it to the final at his age is a massive accomplishment, as he was the 4th-youngest in the field of 43 in the race.
**NOTE- the link below works, you just have to watch it on YouTube rather than on this site. Love that the title of the video from NBC is "Carnage!"
I grew up with his mom & uncle, and his grandmother worked in the athletic department for many years. Great family and great kid. He won the NCAA cross country championship in the fall, but was then injured for much of the spring season, leaving him unable to train. But now hopefully he's getting back to full fitness and peaking at the right time. He's not expected to medal or anything, but just making it to the final at his age is a massive accomplishment, as he was the 4th-youngest in the field of 43 in the race.
**NOTE- the link below works, you just have to watch it on YouTube rather than on this site. Love that the title of the video from NBC is "Carnage!"
Last edited:
