Friendly Rivals Fisher, Haney will Battle for National Crown in Junior Men's 1500m

By Chris Lotsbom, @ChrisLotsbom
(c) 2015 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission

EUGENE, OR, USA (25-Jun) -- Grant Fisher and Blake Haney are very familiar with one another. In 2013 the pair roomed together at the IAAF World Youth Championships in the Ukraine, where Haney placed fifth and Fisher ninth in the 1500m. All through high school, the pair battled for national supremacy, squaring off in cross country and on the track. Now, here at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships, the friendly rivals will battle once again, taking to Hayward Field's oval for the 1500m final on Saturday.

Today, on a blisteringly hot afternoon, both advanced to the final thanks to their savvy racing tactics. In the first heat, Haney --a rising sophomore at the University of Oregon-- made a strong charge in front of his hometown crowd, taking the lead in the final lap. He'd win in 3:52.65, running through the line and not stopping until he reached the mixed zone.

"I just wanted to come out here and run controlled. It's a great field so I knew I had to work for it," said Haney, who surprised some with his third place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships 1500m two weeks ago. "I'm lucky to move on to the finals."  

Minutes later, Fisher led early on in the second heat before getting boxed in the final circuit of heat two. He'd eventually wiggle through the competition in the last 200 meters, taking third in 4:00.09.

"I wanted to defend position two or three," said Fisher, the seventh high schooler in American history to break four minutes for the mile after his  3:59.38 performance earlier this spring. "Worked out great! Place was perfect and I'm ready to go on to Saturday."

With both qualifying for the final, memories of past high school races come to mind for both athletes. Yet the final will also be a preview of what's to come in the next three years, as both race for Pac-12 Conference schools. Fisher is committed to Stanford University, where he'll begin competing for the Cardinal in the fall.

"That's the reality -- that's there's going to be a lot of battles in the Pac-12 and hopefully I'll be ready!" said Fisher. "It's definitely exciting."

When they lace up their spikes, Haney and Fisher become rivals. Still, they have the utmost respect for one another.  

"He's a great runner. You guys have probably watched him all year. I think it's going to be a good race in the final. He'll bring his 'A' game and so will I," said Haney.  

"I think I met Blake a little after my sophomore year...so I know him pretty well," Fisher said. "He's a versatile guy and nobody's taking him lightly, but he's definitely a guy to keep an eye on."

Sadly, missing from the 1500m was sub-four minute miler Matthew Maton, a freshman-to-be at the University of Oregon. After dealing with an Achilles injury the last few weeks, Maton decided to scratch from the discipline and instead focus on the Friday's 5000m. Before withdrawing, it was anticipated that the three best junior milers in America would square off, a chance to see what's in store for the next generation.

"I heard about a week ago that [Maton] was thinking about doubling in the 1500m and 5000m. I was looking forward to him racing again and it's been a long time. I'm excited that he's able to race after the injury, and it's good that he's back," said Fisher, a note of disappointment in his voice. "He's in the 5000m and I wish the best for him. Little disappointed that he's not in the 1500m but he's a great athlete and I'll be cheering him on in the 5000m."

Even without Maton, the men's junior 1500m is shaping up to be a must-watch event on Saturday.

"It's going to be a tough battle, a race to the last ten yards," said Fisher.