Luis Grijalva Explained

Luis Grijalva
Full Name:Luis Miguel Grijalva
Birth Date:10 April 1999
Birth Place:Guatemala City, Guatemala[1]
Hometown:Fairfield, California, U.S.
Sport:Athletics
Universityteam:Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
Coach:Mike Smith

Luis Miguel Grijalva (born 10 April 1999) is a Guatemalan long-distance runner. Born in Guatemala, he attended Armijo High School in Fairfield, California,[2] 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

High school and college

Grijalva was a state champion in cross country while attending Armijo High School, winning Division 1 of the 2016 CIF State Cross Country Championships.[3] He was also an All-American at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.[4] 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. His senior year, Grijalva signed a letter of intent to compete for Northern Arizona University (NAU), beginning in fall 2017.[5]

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.[6] His efforts helped lead the school to three national titles.[7] 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.[8] His time of 13:13.14 was among the top 5 fastest times ever run by a collegian in the event,[9] and it surpassed the Olympic standard of 13:13.50.

Professional

2021

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.[10] 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.[11] [12] This situation garnered national attention. Ultimately, Grivalija received special permission from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to leave and compete. He went on to finish in 12th place in the 5000m final.

2022

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.[13] He also contested the 5000m at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway, finishing eleventh.[14] In July, Grijalva represented Guatemala at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.[15] His time of 13:10.44 led him to a fourth place finish.

2023

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.[16] 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.[17]

On September 17, 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.[18]

Personal life

Grijalva’s family emigrated to the United States from Guatemala in 2000, when he was a year old.[19] They initially moved to New York, before setting in Fairfield, California. When Grijalva was 13 years old, his two older brothers became involved in gang-related activity and were deported. He credits running with helping him to stay focused on his education.

Achievements

All statistics from athlete's profile on World Athletics.

Personal bests

SurfaceEventTimeDateVenueNotes
Outdoor track1500m3:35.32July 18, 2021Ogden, Utah
One mile4:02.64July 29, 2017Mission Viejo, CaliforniaNR
3000m7:29.43September 17, 2023Hayward Field
Two Miles8:21.98August 21, 2021Hayward FieldNB
5000m12:50.58May 30, 2024Bislett Stadium, OsloNR
Indoor track1500m3:41.11February 11, 2022The PodiumNR
One mile3:53.53January 27, 2023Boston University
3000m7:33.86February 11, 2023The Armory
5000m13:29.74January 24, 2020Boston University

International competitions

Representing
2021Olympic GamesNational Stadium, Tokyo, Japan12th5000 m13:10.09
2022World ChampionshipsHayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, USA4th5000 m13:10.44
2023World ChampionshipsNemzeti Atlétikai Központ, Budapest, Hungary4th5000 m13:12.50
2024Olympic GamesStade de Paris, Paris, France16th (heat)5000 m13:58.81

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ‘We showed them what we’re about’: NAU’s Grijalva, Nur compete in track world championships . Cronkite News . David Veenstra . 26 July 2022 . 27 October 2023.
  2. Web site: Luis Grijalva - Track & Field . . NAUathletics.com . 14 June 2021.
  3. Web site: CIF State Cross Country Championships 2016 - D1 Boys . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231027180137/https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/248295-cif-state-cross-country-championships-2016/results/490203/formatted . 27 October 2023 . 2023-10-27 . California MileSplit . en.
  4. Web site: Staff . Daily Republic . 2016-12-10 . Grijalva 13th at Nationals, earns All-American honors . 2023-10-27 . DailyRepublic.com . en.
  5. Web site: Lomtong . Marcus . 2017-04-12 . Grijalva signs letter of intent to reigning NCAA champ Northern Arizona . 2023-10-27 . DailyRepublic.com . en.
  6. Web site: TFRRS | Luis Grijalva – Track and Field Results & Statistics . 2023-10-27 . www.tfrrs.org.
  7. Web site: Gault . Jonathan . Conner Mantz Ends American Drought, NAU Men Reassert Themselves As Kings At 2020 NCAA Cross Country Championships . 2023-10-27 . LetsRun.com . en.
  8. Web site: Gault . Jonathan . 5,000: Cooper Teare (13:12.27) wins a deserved NCAA title in a super fast race . 2023-10-27 . LetsRun.com . en.
  9. Web site: Collegiate Track & Field All-Time Best Marks: USTFCCCA as of 27 October 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231027173424/https://www.ustfccca.org/records-lists/outdoor-collegiate-all-time-bests?top=25&event=11 . 27 October 2023 . 2023-10-27 . en-US.
  10. Web site: Grijalva, a 'dreamer' full of dreams | News | Oregon 22 | World Athletics Championships . 2023-10-27 . worldathletics.org.
  11. News: Browning . Kellen . 2021-07-26 . A Runner’s Olympic Dream Was in Doubt Because of His DACA Status . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-10-27 . 0362-4331.
  12. Web site: Gault . Jonathan . DACA Status Could Destroy This Runner's Olympic Dream . 2023-10-27 . LetsRun.com . en.
  13. Web site: LetsRun.com . Full Results for 2022 Bauhaus Galan -- Stockholm Diamond League Results . 2023-10-27 . LetsRun.com . en.
  14. Web site: LetsRun.com . Full Results for 2022 Bislett Games -- Oslo Diamond League . 2023-10-27 . LetsRun.com . en.
  15. Web site: 5000 Metres Result | World Athletics Championships, Oregon 2022 . 2023-10-27 . worldathletics.org . en.
  16. Web site: LetsRun.com . 2023-06-02 . 2023 Florence DL Recap: 13 Men Break 13:00 as Fred Kerley Keeps Rolling . 2023-10-27 . LetsRun.com . en.
  17. Web site: LetsRun.com . 2023-08-27 . Jakob Ingebrigtsen Leaves It Late, Repeats as 5000m World Champion . 2023-10-27 . LetsRun.com . en.
  18. Web site: Prefontaine Classic | Results | World Athletics . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231027180845/https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7154217?eventId=10229607&gender=M . 27 October 2023 . 2023-10-27 . worldathletics.org.
  19. Web site: 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. . 2023-10-27 . Insider . en-US.