The most highly coveted recruit in the country has made his college decision. On Thursday, Grant Fisher announced that he will attend Stanford University next fall, ending months of speculation about where the defending Foot Locker champion would land. The Grand Blanc (MI) product has been ranked #1 in the Saucony Flo50 all year, and nearly took down Dathan Ritzenhein’s course record at the Portage Invite in early October, running 14:43 to miss Ritz’s record by just two seconds. 

While this Saturday’s NCAA Championships are of top priority for Stanford coach Chris Miltenberg right now, landing his most sought-after recruit is sure to have him excited about the outlook on 2015. Fisher joins a Stanford squad that could contend for a national title next season, as Jim and Joe Rosa should return for their 5th year next fall. Combined with the Rosas and 13:37 5k'er Sean McGorty, Fisher joins a cast that has as good of shot as any to take down what figures to be another outstanding Colorado team. It should also be noted that Miltenberg is proving his chops as a recruiter in just his third year at Stanford, as he has now successfully brought the best transfer (Maksim Korolev) and the best high schooler (Fisher) to Palo Alto in consecutive years. 

Fisher is the second high profile distance athlete to sign with Stanford this fall, as Flo50 #3 Alex Ostberg (Darien High, CT) joined the Cardinal on Thursday as well. These two were the fastest in their respective events on the track last spring, as Ostberg ran a 14:16 5k at New Balance Nationals, and Fisher ran an 8:51.28 two-mile to win the Brooks PR Invite. Adding these two next fall makes the loss of Korolev hurt just a little bit less. 

With his college decision behind him, Fisher will turn his attention to defending his Foot Locker crown next month. If he can accomplish that feat on December 13th, Fisher would become just the fourth man in history to win the race twice, joining Edward Cheserek (’11, ’12), Lukas Verzbicas (’09, ’10), Dathan Ritzenhein (’99, ’00), and Abdirizak Mohamud (“96, “97). 

Fisher’s next race will be November 29th in Kenosha, WI at the Foot Locker Midwest Regional.