by Larry Eder
The 3,000 meters at the 2025 Millrose Games will go down in indoor track and field history as one of the greatest races in the last fifty years. Cole Hocker, 2024 Paris Olympic champion, and Grant Fisher, 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medalist in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, dueled over the 3,000 meter distance.
Keen readers will remember that both Cole and Grant ran in the 2 mile (about 2 meters longer than 3,000 meters) at the 2024 Millrose Games, with Grant Fisher running 8:03.62 AR for the 2 miles and Cole Hocker running a fine 8:05.70 in the race where Josh Kerr, Olympic silver and bronze at 1,500m, World Indoor gold at 3,000m and World Outdoor gold at 1,500 meter, set a new WR of 8:00.63.
The 3,000 meters at the Millrose Games was expected to be fast, but few expected an American record or a world record! This was, an early season race, for both Grant and Cole. Remember, Grant Fisher had run a PB of 3:33.99 on February 2, a new PB for Grant who took second to Josh Hoey, one of the revelations of 2025.
Consider the personal bests of Grant Fisher. 1,500m at 3:33.99 (2025), 2 miles in 8:03.62 (2024), 5,000 meters in 12:46.96 AR (2022) and 10,000m in 26:33.34 (2022). Grant Fisher has serious
Now consider the PBs of Cole Hocker, Olympic Gold medalist at the 1,500 meters, has PBs of 1:45.63 at 800m (2024), 3:27.65 OR/AR for 1,500 meters (Paris 2024), Mile in 3:48.08 (2023), 3,000 meters (7:42.23) in 2023, 2 miles in 8:05.70 (2024), and 5,000 meters in 12:58.92 ( 2024). Pretty impressive for a miler!
Common thought would be that Grant Fisher and Cole Hocker are meeting at the 3,000 meters. This race was planned to be fast, as the rabbit, Grant and Cole hit the 2,000 meter mark in 4:58.9, that is a 4 minute mile with a 58.9 lap. The more correct splits were 3:56.8 for the 1,600 meters.
Grant Fisher began pushing the pace just after 2,000 meters, and the race was on.
Fisher and his coach, Mike Scannell, Grant’s high school coach, who Grant went back to just over a year ago after leaving the Bowerman Track Club planned this race meticulously. That became apparent to this writer when, upon meeting Mike Scannell, a very postive and jovial person, noted how Josh Hoey’s stride could be a challenge for athletes who run too close behind him.
Fisher is tough. His sprint finishes in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters in Paris were against the very best runners in the world, and he caught them to take the bronze medal from them, never forget that!
Cole Hocker planned his race in Paris with his coach, and when his time came, he was able to capitalize on Josh Kerr’s focus on Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and go by on the inside, using the finish patented, so to speak by the great Steve Ovett at the World Cup in 1977.
Fisher had pushed three laps, when he was surprised. Cole Hocker went by and did not look back. Grant Fisher held on. Could he challenge Hocker, or would Cole prove to be too strong.
Cole Hocker held off Grant Fisher until the very last 100 meters, when, Grant Fisher launched a final kick and went by Cole Hocker, Hocker tried mightily, but could not go by.
Grant Fisher broke the tape in an AR and WR of 7:22.91, erasing the former WR of steeple star Lamecha Girma. Cole Hocker, who gave it his all, ran 7:23.14, in second also under the former World Record.
In the video with Cole Hocker, Dave Monti asked Cole about the race, and that is where Cole Hocker revealed a bit about himself. Cole told the assembled media that the introduction he recieved at Millrose was the first time he had heard, ” Olympic gold medalist at 1,500 meters”, and it moved him.
What really moved Cole Hocker was finishing second. He does not like finishing second.
Expect Cole Hocker to be prepared the next time he races Grant Fisher. Cole Hocker made it very clear to the media that he was not prepared to lose to Grant Fisher. That is the way it is with top athletes. They believe in themselves, and Cole and Grant are at the very, very top of the food chain. Not just American athletes, but global athletes.
Cole Hocker, in his pre event presser, was looking into the future, prior to the 3,000 meters:
“The area where I’m a bit isolated really helps with focus. If I’m lacking anywhere, it’s my strength and that long end stuff. So I’ve been doing these long runs, building up. It’s still so early, looking at the entire calendar for the year, but even for this indoor season, Millrose is my opener. So I’m feeling really strong. You know it’s an interesting place to be in training, at this point in the cycle. I know my strengths, and I know my competitors’ strengths. Millrose will be a perfect race to test myself and run fast and hard.”
Cole Hocker ran an incredible time at 3,000 meters, and knows that he is fit, can race with the best at 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters. It will be interesting to see where he focuses, but mark my word, Cole Hocker will be in the battle for Tokyo title at 1,500 meters. He should be considered the favorite for Tokyo.
Grant Fisher now has World records at the 3,000 meters indoors (7:22.91) and 5,000 meters (12:44.09). Grant Fisher is on the top of the hill, and with Grant Fisher, Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse, and Hobbs Kessler as top global athletes and top American athletes, we will have some fascinating races to watch in 2025!
