This is RunBlogRun’s feature on Grant Holloway and his fantastic opener in 2023 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix!
Grant Holloway reminds us, for the sixty-first time!
Grant Holloway won the sixty-first final indoors of his career, with a winning streak that goes back, at the 60m hurdles that date back to high school.
The athlete, who was nicknamed Flamingo by his high school track coach, uses that nom de plum as his Twitter and IG handles.
Grant Holloway goes into hyperspace, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Track & Field
Boston Massachusetts, USA
February 4, 2023
World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting, photo by Kevin Morris
Grant Holloway is a master of his event and a student of the sport. When Grant and I speak, I learn something new about the hurdles and Grant each and every conversation.
Grant Holloway running 7.38 for the 60m hurdles, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Track & Field
Boston Massachusetts, USA
February 4, 2023
World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting, photo by Kevin Morris
Good-natured, well-versed in communications, and willing to rip a journalist a new one if they do not know the event (Grant gave me a little trouble back in 2019 at his first World Champs gold post-event presser), Grand Holloway is one of the true superstars of the sport.
Why?
Because Grant Holloway knows how fleeting fame is, and how silly things can change the complete outcome of an event. At the 2021 U.S. Trials, Grant Holloway ran the second-fastest 110m hurdles of all time, in the semis! He looked relaxed, focused, and flying. He won the final, as he had planned.
Grant Holloway takes the win, 60m hurdles, 7.38 WL, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Track & Field
Boston Massachusetts, USA
February 4, 2023
World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting, photo by Kevin Morris
What he did not plan was his performance at the Olympics. Grant was beaten by Hansle Parchment, the Jamaican star, who saw that Grant was a little off and pressed Grant in the final, taking the gold.
And then, the whispering began. Grant was over, so and so would kick his butt, you know, the trash talk. That Grant Holloway kept his cool, that Coach Holloway (no relation) kept Grant together, and that Grant would tell me, “focused on Eugene.” said it all.
Grant Holloway after the finish, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Track & Field
Boston Massachusetts, USA
February 3, 2023
World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting, photo by Kevin Morris
Grant began 2022 with gold in Belgrade over the 60m hurdles, teasingly fast with his timing just about perfect.
I did not tell anyone this next story. In June 2022, I want to the NYC Grand Prix at Randalls Island. I was not feeling great, having recovered from heart surgery, and was trying to keep my energy up.
The meeting was superb. The stands filled over the first hour to a boisterous six thousand, and the 110m hurdles were what they came to see.
Devon Allen and Grant Holloway were ready to rumble. Holloway got out fast, charging to the lead, as he does through six hurdles. Devon was on him and went by at the seventh hurdle, running 12.84, and did not look back. The fans were astounded.
On the way to the bus, Grant came over and said, “Devon had a great race, remember, it is all about Eugene.”
Grant Holloway was confident in himself, and his mission, and kept it together in the US champs and the World Champs.
Grant Holloway, 60m hurdle winner, 7.38 WL, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Track & Field
Boston Massachusetts, USA
February 3, 2023
World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting, photo by Kevin Morris
The World Champs was great theater. Unfortunately, Devon Allen was DQed in the final, after Hansle Parchment, the Olympic champion, was injured during the warm-up. Grant kept his cool (think Donavan Bailey, 1996 100m final in Atlanta, oh look it up), and led a gold-silver run by the US in the 110m hurdles (Grant and Trey Cunningham).
At the NB Indoor GP, Grant Holloway ran 7.38 for the win in heat 1, looking superb. Aggressive focused, and fluid, Grant Holoway looked ready to win once again.
At the presser, Grant told the media that he would not miss a world indoor champs or world outdoor champs, that is his mission.
Grant Holloway, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Track & Field
Boston Massachusetts, USA
February 3, 2023
World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting, photo by Kevin Morris
In the final, Grant ran away from the field, running 7.38, giving him his 61st straight indoor win over the 60m hurdle distance.
In the mixed zone, Grant Holloway told the media: “I feel good. Good season opener, a good way to come back and get the season started. Looking forward to future hurdles.”
Grant Holloway, who is prone to self-analysis, noted in a follow-up: “It felt good. It felt good. Couple of technical errors that I could clean up. But you know, it was my second race of the season, so excited to see what happens in two weeks and then in four. Looking forward, figure out my sweet spot and just get back in the flow. It’s a new year, 2023, so the record is 0-0 and the main goal is to get to Budapest.”
Grant Holloway will be racing in Europe indoors, but just one or two events. Watch for upcoming post with an interview with Grant Holloway, who opened 2023 well!
