© Copyright – 2023 – Athletics Illustrated
Canada’s second-fastest all-time 5000-metre runner, Justyn Knight, is moving to Eugene, Oregon to train with the Bowerman Track Club (BTC).
After a career year in 2021 that saw him set pbs of 3:33/12:51, Justyn Knight has missed the last two years due to an Achilles injury.
— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) August 14, 2023
I caught up with Knight, who discussed his move to the Bowerman Track Club, his rehab from June surgery, and his future:https://t.co/p72YXYWLYL
Knight was previously coached, until 2022, by Chris Fox. Knight now a 27-year-old Toronto, ON native attended Syracuse University. After graduating, Knight and Fox worked together as part of the Reebok Boston Track Club from 2018 until 2022.
Knight has not raced in nearly two years due to a persistent Achilles issue. He had surgery in June to repair it and is currently in the process of rehabilitation. Knight, Fox and BTC expect him to be ready to race in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. They will begin working together in September.
Justyn Knight news and interviews>>
There are only two North Americans to run faster over 5000m than Knight. They are American Grant Fisher (BTC) and fellow Canadian Moh Ahmed (BTC). Ahmed holds the current Canadian record at 12:47.20. Fisher, the American record at 12:46.96. Jerry Schumacher will be the coach for all three.
Knight finished seventh in the Tokyo Olympic Games with a 13:04.38 performance. At age 21, he won the NCAA Division I Championships in the time of 14:14.47.
He looks forward to the new training environment, and being able to train with fellow Canadian Ahmed.
Apparently, Schumacher’s approach to training is intense in comparison to Fox’s. With two years off from racing, Knight may be a reclamation project. However, he has his eyes on a serious return to the sport. Moving away from a coach Fox to Schumacher is viewed as a serious step in his career, as the change will be dramatic (once he is fit and healthy).
