EUGENE, Ore. — Cole Hocker ran into the record books and straight to Paris Monday night in the U.S. Track and Field Trials in Oregon.
The Cathedral High School graduate set a trials record in the 1,500 meters, finishing in 3:30.60 to lead three qualifiers for the Summer Olympics.
"I was just ready for anything today, I'm the strongest I've ever been. In 2021, I was able to depend on my kick, but I knew today was going to take a little bit more than just a kick and that was absolutely true. I just knew, once I made a decision, commit to it and that's what I did."
Hocker nearly set the trials record in his first run Friday night, finishing in 3:34.34. He was about three seconds slower in winning Saturday's semifinal, but smashed the mark on Monday.
Notre Dame grad Yared Nuguse and Hobbs Kessler also qualified for Paris in the event. Nuguse is the American record holder in the 1,500 and the mile.
Hocker finished sixth in the 1,500 in Tokyo in 2021 with a time of 3:31.40. In February, he set a new meet record at the USA Track & Field Indoor Championships, when he edged Kessler by a little over a second.
Hocker is also scheduled to run in the heats of the 5,000 meters on Thursday.