Nach Bestleistungen über die 1.500m und 10.000m in den vergangenen Wochen, zeigte Fabian auch über seine Paradestrecke aufsteigende Tendenz. In seinem ersten Meisterschaftsrennen auf der Bahn belegte er für Oklahoma State University den 2. Platz über die 3.000m Hindernisse bei m Big 12 Conference Meeting in Manhattan, Kansas in 8.46,72.
Der OSU Chef-Trainer kommentierte die Leistung in einem Interview:
In the 3,000 meter steeplechase, two Oklahoma State University Cowboys scored and set personal records in the process. Freshman Fabian Clarkson placed second in the event after running an 8:46.72, which stands as the sixth-best effort in OSU history, while junior Taylor Monaghan placed fifth after clocking an 8:58.21.
“Fabian is a tough, tough kid who got in there and ran a great race,” Dave Smith (OSU Trainer) said. “He went with the leader a while and it almost cost him. Coming over the last barrier, he was really starting to fade. He almost caught the barrier and went down, and there was a Texas kid coming up hard behind him.
“Fortunately, he stayed on his feet, crossed the finish line, got a big P.R. and a second place finish as a freshman is fantastic.”
In der noch jungen Saison ist er mit dieser Zeit aktuell der zweitschnellster Europäer in der Altersklasse U23.