Stanford signee Grant Fisher, a senior at Michigan’s Grand Blanc High School, was named a repeat winner of the Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year award on Thursday.
Fisher, who captured his second consecutive Foot Locker national championship in December in San Diego, became the 10th repeat winner in any sport in the history of the Gatorade national award.
Dathan Ritzenheim, the last two-time Gatorade Michigan Cross Country Runner of the Year before Fisher, presented him with the award during a ceremony at Grand Blanc High.
Fisher is one of five all-time to win back-to-back Foot Locker national titles, clocking 15:00 over 5 kilometers. Previously, he repeated as Michigan Division I state champ, running 14:52.5 to win by nearly 30 seconds.
Fisher shines on the track as well, posting times of 4:02.02 at New York City’s Dream Mile and 8:51.28 at the Brooks PR Invitational two mile in Renton, Wash., last spring. Both were victories against strong competition.
Fisher has won five state championships overall, including two at 3,200 and one at 1,600. He also is an outstanding soccer player and has been selected for Olympic Development Program teams.
“As much as he has accomplished, he has incredible potential to develop into one of the best in the country at the NCAA level,” said Chris Miltenberg, Stanford’s Director of Track and Field after Fisher signed a letter of intent in November. “He’s played soccer for so long, now he’ll get a chance to really focus on running full-time. There is enormous room for growth.”
Women’s tennis
Stanford grad Nicole Gibbs, a two-time NCAA singles champion, dropped a heart-breaking decision, 7-6(3), 7-6(6), to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the second round of the Australian Open on Thursday.
The unseeded Gibbs, currently ranked No. 96, defeated Australia’s Olivia Rogowoska, 6-4, 6-1, earlier in the week.
Gibbs appeared in her first main draw of the Aussie Open and more than held her own against the 26th ranked Svitolina, who meets top-seeded Serena Williams in the third round.
Gibbs overcame numerous unforced errors to remain competitive in the match. Svitolina recorded eight aces en route to the victory.
Gibbs is looking for her first title on the WTA tour. She has enjoyed success on the USTA Pro Circuit.
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics