Luis Grijalva

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Luis Grijalva
Grijalva competing at the 2023 World Athletics Championships – Men's 5000 metres.
Personal information
Full nameLuis Miguel Grijalva
Born (1999-04-10) 10 April 1999 (age 25)
Guatemala City, Guatemala[1]
Home townFairfield, California, U.S.
Sport
SportAthletics
Events
University teamNorthern Arizona Lumberjacks
Coached byMike Smith
Achievements and titles
Personal bests

Luis Miguel Grijalva (born 10 April 1999) is a Guatemalan long-distance runner.[2] Born in Guatemala, he attended Armijo High School in Fairfield, California,[3] where he was a state champion in cross country and track. He competed for Northern Arizona University from 2017 to 2021, securing multiple All-American finishes in the NCAA. In 2021, Grijalva began competing professionally, sponsored by Hoka One One. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, he finished 12th in the 5000m. He also finished fourth in the 5000m at both the 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships.

Running career[edit]

High school and college[edit]

Grijalva was a state champion in cross country while attending Armijo High School, winning Division 1 of the 2016 CIF State Cross Country Championships.[4] He was also an All-American at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.[5] On the track, Grijalva won the 1600m state championship in 2017, and he recorded high school personal bests of 4:02 in the mile and 8:46 for 2 miles.[3] His senior year, Grijalva signed a letter of intent to compete for Northern Arizona University (NAU), beginning in fall 2017.[6]

While at NAU, Grijalva raced four times in the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, improving from a 60th place finish his freshman year to a 9th place finish his senior year.[7] His efforts helped lead the school to three national titles.[8] On the track, Grijalva primarily specialized in the 5000m. In his final collegiate race, he finished second in the 2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, behind Cooper Teare.[9] His time of 13:13.14 was among the top 5 fastest times ever run by a collegian in the event,[10] and it surpassed the Olympic standard of 13:13.50.[9]

Grijalva competes in the NCAA in 2018

Professional[edit]

2021[edit]

In June 2021, Grijalva turned professional after securing a sponsorship deal with shoe company HOKA ONE ONE, and he remained in Flagstaff, Arizona to continue training under his college coach, Mike Smith.[11] He was slated to represent Guatemala in the 5000m of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in August. However, his status as a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient posed challenges for his travel outside the United States, as DACA beneficiaries risk denial of reentry if they leave the country.[12][13] This situation garnered national attention. Ultimately, Grivalija received special permission from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to leave and compete.[12] He went on to finish in 12th place in the 5000m final.

2022[edit]

Grijalva competed internationally in June over 3000m on the Diamond League, running to a time of 7:38.67 and a sixth place finish in Stockholm, Sweden.[14] He also contested the 5000m at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway, finishing eleventh.[15] In July, Grijalva represented Guatemala at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.[16] His time of 13:10.44 led him to a fourth place finish.

2023[edit]
Grijalva competes in the 5000m at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary.

Grijalva competed in several European races during June and July, including at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea meet in Italy. At that Diamond League event, the athlete ran a new personal best of 12:52.97 for 5000m, earning him third place.[17] Later that summer, Grijalva represented Guatemala at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungry. He placed 4th for the second time in the 5000m of a global championship, just 0.22 second shy of bronze medalist Jakob Krop of Kenya.[18]

On September 17th, he competed in the 3000m of the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, which also served as the Diamond League Final. His time of 7:29.43, en route to a seventh place finish, was another national record for the Guatemalan.[19]

Personal life[edit]

Grijalva’s family emigrated to the United States from Guatemala in 2000, when he was a year old.[20][12] They initially moved to New York, before setting in Fairfield, California.[12] When Grijalva was 13 years old, his two older brothers became involved in gang-related activity and were deported.[11] He credits running with helping him to stay focused on his education.

Achievements[edit]

All statistics from athlete's profile on World Athletics.[2]

Personal bests[edit]

Surface Event Time Date Venue Notes
Outdoor track 1500m 3:35.32 July 18th, 2021 Ogden, Utah
One mile 4:02.64 July 29th, 2017 Mission Viejo, California NR
3000m 7:29.43 September 17th, 2023 Hayward Field
Two Miles 8:21.98 August 21st, 2021 Hayward Field NB
5000m 12:52.97 June 2nd, 2023 Ridolfi Stadium, Florence NR
Indoor track 1500m 3:41.11 February 11, 2022 The Podium NR
One mile 3:53.53 January 27th, 2023 Boston University
3000m 7:33.86 February 11, 2023 The Armory
5000m 13:29.74 January 24th, 2020 Boston University

International competitions[edit]

Year Competition Venue Position Event Time
Representing  Guatemala
2021 Olympic Games National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan 12th 5000 m 13:10.09
2022 World Championships Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, USA 4th 5000 m 13:10.44
2023 World Championships Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ, Budapest, Hungary 4th 5000 m 13:12.50

References[edit]

  1. ^ David Veenstra (26 July 2022). "'We showed them what we're about': NAU's Grijalva, Nur compete in track world championships". Cronkite News. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Luis Grijalva at World Athletics
  3. ^ a b "Luis Grijalva - Track & Field". NAUathletics.com. Northern Arizona University. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  4. ^ "CIF State Cross Country Championships 2016 - D1 Boys". California MileSplit. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  5. ^ Staff, Daily Republic (2016-12-10). "Grijalva 13th at Nationals, earns All-American honors". DailyRepublic.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  6. ^ Lomtong, Marcus (2017-04-12). "Grijalva signs letter of intent to reigning NCAA champ Northern Arizona". DailyRepublic.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  7. ^ "TFRRS | Luis Grijalva – Track and Field Results & Statistics". www.tfrrs.org. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  8. ^ Gault, Jonathan. "Conner Mantz Ends American Drought, NAU Men Reassert Themselves As Kings At 2020 NCAA Cross Country Championships". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  9. ^ a b Gault, Jonathan. "5,000: Cooper Teare (13:12.27) wins a deserved NCAA title in a super fast race". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  10. ^ "Collegiate Track & Field All-Time Best Marks: USTFCCCA as of 27 October 2023". Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  11. ^ a b "Grijalva, a 'dreamer' full of dreams | News | Oregon 22 | World Athletics Championships". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  12. ^ a b c d Browning, Kellen (2021-07-26). "A Runner's Olympic Dream Was in Doubt Because of His DACA Status". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  13. ^ Gault, Jonathan. "DACA Status Could Destroy This Runner's Olympic Dream". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  14. ^ LetsRun.com. "Full Results for 2022 Bauhaus Galan -- Stockholm Diamond League Results". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  15. ^ LetsRun.com. "Full Results for 2022 Bislett Games -- Oslo Diamond League". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  16. ^ "5000 Metres Result | World Athletics Championships, Oregon 2022". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  17. ^ LetsRun.com (2023-06-02). "2023 Florence DL Recap: 13 Men Break 13:00 as Fred Kerley Keeps Rolling". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  18. ^ LetsRun.com (2023-08-27). "Jakob Ingebrigtsen Leaves It Late, Repeats as 5000m World Champion". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  19. ^ "Prefontaine Classic | Results | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  20. ^ Forero, Nicole. "I'm an Olympic athlete and a DACA recipient. Because of my status, I never thought I would be able to leave the US to compete at the Tokyo Olympics". Insider. Retrieved 2023-10-27.

External links[edit]

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