Justyn Knight
2020 Tokyo Olympian - Nike Elite Athlete
Justyn Knight is a Canadian long-distance track runner. A successful collegiate runner during his time at Syracuse University, he was the school's most-decorated distance runner in cross country and track.
On the professional scene, he has represented his country at the World and Olympic level, with his highest finish to date being seventh at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Knight placed fourth overall at the 2015 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships. At the 2015 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Knight placed sixth in the 5000 meters, earning his first All-American honours in track and field in his NCAA collegiate career.
At the 2016 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, Knight finished in third place in the 3000 meters final round. He was the runner-up at the 2016 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships behind Patrick Tiernan and earned All-America status in Cross Country
Knight headed into his final NCAA outdoor campaign representing Syracuse with three NCAA titles, two individual, from the cross country and indoor track season, and one team from leading the Orange to the 2015 NCAA Cross Country Championship. At the 2018 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships, Knight finished in second place in the 3000 meters final round and won the 5000 meters final to earn his first NCAA Division I track title.
Knight had made his World Championship debut at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London while still a student at Syracuse. He made the event final and placed ninth overall in the 5000 m.
Knight entered 2020 focused on securing a place at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
In 2021, Knight returned to competition at the 2021 Diamond League's Golden Gala in Florence, Italy. He finished with a time of 12:51.93, shaving almost twenty seconds off his prior best and running below thirteen minutes in the 5000 m distance for the first time. This was the second-fastest time ever recorded for a North American, behind only compatriot Mohammed Ahmed. Knight was named to the Canadian Olympic team and finished seventh in the 5000 m event. His time of 13:04.38 was an improvement of more than 22 seconds on his prior World Championships appearance.
In August 2023 Knight joined Nike's Bowerman Track Club.