One world record wasn’t enough for Grant Fisher. He needed two this season.
Published: Feb 14, 2025 6:56 PM EST Tigst Assefa Breaks Women’s-Only Marathon WR, the Olympic bronze medalist smashed the world record in the indoor 5,000 meters. On February 14 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, Fisher won in 12:44.09, faster than the previous indoor 5,000-meter record (12:49.60) set by Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia in 2004. He also ran faster than his own outdoor American record in the 5,000 meters, which is 12:46.96.
According to FloTrack, the 27-year-old requested the rabbits pace Friday’s event with a 12:42 target time in mind. Since Bekele’s historic run 21 years ago, no athlete had broken the 12:50 barrier indoors. Fisher wanted to obliterate it by averaging 4:05 per mile at Boston University’s indoor track facility.
With the help of pacesetters Henry Mcluckie and DJ Principe, Fisher found himself in good position early on. He opened with a 4:05.01 for the first 1600 meters. By the 3,000-meter split—which he covered in a blazing 7:39.16—Fisher was running solo after both pacers stepped off the track. Jimmy Gressier, the only competitor who dared to go with him, fell off the pace just after halfway.
With 2,000 meters to go, Fisher’s strength was undeniable. Though he had to run around a large chase pack in the last 400 meters, he still managed to throw in one final burst at the bell. With his arms outstretched, Fisher flew through the finish line in 12:44.09, lowering the American indoor 5,000-meter record, 12:51.61 set by Woody Kincaid indoor 3,000 meters.
He needed two this season Half Marathon Training in the event. Running for the University of Arkansas, Yaseen Abdalla placed third in 13:09.99. He is now No. 8 on the A week after breaking the world record in the.
In the last year, Fisher’s racing has reached new heights. At the Paris Olympic Games, he claimed bronze medals in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters three years after finishing fifth in the 10,000 meters in his Olympic debut in Tokyo.
American Women at the 2025 Boston Marathon Millrose Games. In a thrilling duel with Olympic 1500-meter champion Cole Hocker, Fisher broke away to claim the world record in the Tigst Assefa Breaks Women’s-Only Marathon WR by nearly a second. He ran 7:22.91, improving the mark set by Lamecha Girma (7:23.81) of Ethiopia in 2023. Hocker also ran under the previous record, finishing second in 7:23.14.
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
