“Graham concluded his high school cross country career as one of the best runners in state history. However, while many runners strive to win a race and others strive to be the best in the state, Graham strives to be the best in the country. He has left his mark as a modest and hard-working leader who helped create a winning atmosphere for younger runners on the team. His legacy will be as much about the fun and joy of running as the fast times on the record board.”

Geoffrey Walton

Head Coach - Athens Academy co-head coach

Athletic Excellence

The 6-foot, 135-pound senior distance talent won the NXN Southeast Regional championship qualifier this past season, breaking the tape in 14:57.70. Only the second Georgia prep in history, male or female, to qualify for a national championship race—and the first since 1987—Blanks crossed the line 28th at the national NXN Final, falling 4.4 seconds shy of All-American status. He also became the state’s first runner to win the prestigious Great American Cross Country Festival, clocking a personal-best 5K time of 14:45.60 in the Race of Champions to finish 10 seconds ahead of his next-closest competitor. A two-time 1A Private state champion, a four-time All-State honoree and the 2019 Georgia Cross Country Coaches Association Runner of the Year, he set an all-class meet record at the GHSA State XC Championships, capturing the individual title in 15:33.32 and leading the Spartans to fifth-place as a team.

Academic Achievement

Blanks has maintained a 4.02 GPA in the classroom. He will attend Harvard University this fall, where he will run cross country as well as track and field.

Exemplary Character

A Model UN participant and co-founder of the school’s environmental club, Blanks coordinates weekend roadside and riverbank cleanups and helps lead trash collection efforts following home football games.