Cole Hocker

Last updated

Cole Hocker
Cropped HockerNur HuskyInvite2020.png
Hocker at the Husky Invite in 2020
Personal information
Born (2001-06-06) June 6, 2001 (age 22)
Indianapolis , Indiana
Education Cathedral High School
University of Oregon
Sport
CountryUnited States
Sport Track and field
Event(s) 800 m, 1500 m, mile, 3000 m, 5000 m
College team Oregon Ducks
Team Nike
Turned pro2021
Coached byBen Thomas
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals
  • 2020 Tokyo
  • 1500 m, 6th
Personal bests
Medal record
Men's track and field
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
World Indoor Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2024 Glasgow 1500 m

Cole Hocker (born June 6, 2001) is an American middle and long-distance runner. He holds multiple national titles in annual competitions organized by USA Track & Field, including three titles in the 1500 meters and one title in the 3000 meters. In March 2024, he won a silver medal in the 1500 m at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow. Hocker also placed sixth in the 1500 m at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo and seventh at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

Contents

In high school, Hocker won several high-level competitions, including the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in 2018. Beginning in 2019, he competed collegiately for the University of Oregon, where he won four NCAA titles. [2] Hocker announced in 2021 that he would forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility to run professionally, signing to run under Nike. [3]

Background and youth sports

Hocker grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana and began running competitively at a young age, recording a time of 4:36 in the mile as an eighth grader. [4] He attended Cathedral High School, where he won multiple state- and national-level races. He was second in the 2017 IHSAA Cross Country State Finals & won in '18. He finished second at the 2018 Nike Cross Nationals, and he won the 2018 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. [5] For college, he chose the University of Oregon over offers from many other schools, including Northern Arizona University and Indiana University. [6]

Collegiate competition

Hocker (right) competes for the Oregon Ducks in 2020. Arkansas Invite Stanford Track and field.jpg
Hocker (right) competes for the Oregon Ducks in 2020.

Hocker ran for the Oregon Ducks from 2019 to 2021. At the 2021 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships, he won the mile in 3:53.71 and the 3000 metres in 7:46.15. [7] Earlier that year, he ran a personal best of 3:50.55 in the mile on February 12, 2021, finishing in a close second to teammate Cooper Teare at a meet at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The two set the seventh and eighth all-time fastest performances for the indoor mile.

At the 2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, he won the 1500 metres in a time of 3:35.35, outkicking NCAA record holder Yared Nuguse. He also finished 4th in the 5000 metres in a time of 13:18.95. [8] At the 2020 United States Olympic Trials, Hocker won the 1500 m final ahead of Matthew Centrowitz and Yared Nuguse. Hocker did not have the Olympic qualifying time, however he qualified for the games based on his world ranking position. [9]

At the 2020 Olympic Games, Hocker placed 6th in the 1500 metre event with a time of 3:31.40, setting a new personal best. His time was under the Olympic Record set 2 days prior in the semifinals by Abel Kipsang of Kenya. Hocker qualified for the semifinals by running 3:36.16 for 4th in his heat. Hocker then ran 3:33.87, his then personal best, for 2nd in his semifinal to qualify for the final. [10]

Senior competition

2021

On September 13, 2021, Hocker announced his decision to turn professional, forgoing his further participation on the University of Oregon team. [11] Hocker became a Nike-sponsored athlete, and continues to be based in Oregon training under coach Ben Thomas. [12] Hocker made his professional debut at the 2022 Millrose Games, where he competed in the 3,000 meter race. He ran a personal record of 7:39.83, placing third behind Geordie Beamish and teammate Cooper Teare. [13] Two weeks later at Gately Park in Chicago, in a bid for the American indoor mile record of 3:49.98, Teare and Hocker ran personal bests of 3:50.17 and 3:50.35 to place first and second. [14]

2022

At the 2022 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Spokane, Washington, Hocker doubled in the 1,500 meter and 3,000 meter events. He earned his second and third national titles, running a meet record time of 3:39.09 in the 1500m. [15] However, he opted out of the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, turning his focus instead to the outdoor championships in July. [16] An injury at the US National Track and Field championships in June 2022, prevented him from qualifying in the 1500 m for the World Outdoor Championships. [17]

2023

Hocker finished third at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, qualifying him for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. [18] He placed 7th at the world championship final, en route to a new personal best of 3:30.7. [19] In September 2023, Hocker competed in the mile of the Diamond League final at the Perfontaine Classic. He had did not have enough Diamond League points to qualify, but the meet organizers entered him as a national wildcard, [20] based on a rule that allows the host nation to enter an athlete who is of adequate standing in each event. [21] In the race, Hocker finished sixth in a personal best of 3:48.08, [22] the fourth fastest time ever run by an American in the mile. [23]

2024

In February, Hocker ran 8:05.70 in the indoor 2-mile at the Millrose Games. [24] He finished third, behind compatriot Grant Fisher, who broke the American record in the event, and Scotsman Josh Kerr, who broke the world record. Hocker's time was also under the previous American record of 8:07.41 held by Galen Rupp. That same month, Hocker won a national title in the 1500 m at the 2024 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, setting a meeting record in 3:37.51. [25] In March, he won a silver medal for the United States in the 1500 m at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, his first finish on the podium at a global competition. [26] In May, Hocker hit the Olympic qualifying standard in the 5000 m by running a personal best of 12:58.82 at the Los Angles Grand Prix. [27]

Achievements

All statistics from athlete's profile on World Athletics. [1]

Personal bests

SurfaceEventTimeDateVenue
Outdoor track800m1:46.39May 16, 2021 Katherine B. Loker Stadium, Los Angeles, United States
1500m3:30.70August 23, 2023Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ, Budapest, Hungary
One mile3:48.08September 16, 2023 Hayward Field, Eugene, United States
3000m7:42.93August 5, 2023AtletiekArena Gaston Roelants Kessel-Lo / Hal 5, Leuven, Belgium
5000m12:58.82May 17, 2024USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix, Los Angeles, United States
Indoor track800m1:48.44February 13, 2021 Randal Tyson Indoor Center, Fayetteville, United States
1500m3:36.69March 4, 2024 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, Glasgow, Scotland
One mile3:50.35February 11, 2022Gately Indoor TF Center, Chicago, United States
3000m7:39.83January 29, 2022 Armory Track & Field Center, New York, United States
Two mile8:05.70February 11, 2024 Armory Track & Field Center, New York, United States
RoadOne mile road [note 1] 4:08.0hJune 6, 2019 Indianapolis, United States

z

Major championships

Representing Flag of the United States.svg USA
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventTime
2021 Olympic Games National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan6th1500m3:31.40
2023 World Championships Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ, Budapest, Hungary7th1500m3:30.70
2024 World Indoor Championships Commonwealth Arena, Glasgow, ScotlandSilver medal icon.svg1500m3:36.69

Notes:

  1. Hocker ran 3:51.00 on the road at the 2022 New Balance 5th Avenue Mile on September 11, 2022, which is not listed on his World Athletics profile. Source Archived December 3, 2022, at the Wayback Machine

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanamaker Mile</span> Annual elite indoor mile race

The Wanamaker Mile is a prestigious indoor mile race for elite middle distance runners held annually at the Millrose Games in New York City. Among the world's premier mile races, it is the signature and concluding event of the games, and is named in honor of department store owner Rodman Wanamaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prefontaine Classic</span> Track and field meet held in Oregon, United States

The Prefontaine Classic is a track and field meet held at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, United States. Organized by the Oregon Track Club, it was previously one of the IAAF Grand Prix events, and is now part of the Diamond League. The meet is one of the few international competitions to host the imperial distances of the Mile run and 2 Mile run.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3000 metres</span> Long-distance track running event

The 3000 metres or 3000-metre run is a track running event, also commonly known as the "3K" or "3K run", where 7.5 laps are run around an outdoor 400 m track, or 15 laps around a 200 m indoor track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mile run</span> Common middle-distance running event

The mile run is a middle-distance foot race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Centrowitz Jr.</span> American middle-distance runner

Matthew Centrowitz Jr. is an American middle-distance runner, who specializes in the 1500 metres. He won a gold medal in the event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He also achieved a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships and a silver medal at the 2013 World Championships. Centrowitz is a five-time national champion in the 1500 m at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Jenkins</span> American distance runner

Eric Jenkins is a retired long-distance runner. In college, he ran for Northeastern University, before transferring to the University of Oregon after his junior year. At the University of Oregon, Jenkins was a two-time NCAA Champion, with victories in the 3000 metres and 5000 metres at the 2015 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships. He began competing professionally for Nike in 2015 as part of the Nike Oregon Project. Jenkins retired from competition in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Athletics Indoor Tour</span>

The World Athletics Indoor Tour, formerly the IAAF World Indoor Tour, is an annual series of indoor track and field meetings, held since 2016. It was designed to create a Diamond League-style circuit for indoor track and field events, to raise the profile of indoor track and field, and replaced the IAAF Indoor Permit Meetings series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jakob Ingebrigtsen</span> Norwegian middle- and long-distance runner (born 2000)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen is a Norwegian middle- and long-distance runner. Ingebrigtsen is the current world record holder for the indoor 1500 metres and the 2000 metres, and holds the world best time over the two mile distance. Ingebrigtsen is a two-time World champion, winning gold medals in the 5000 metres in 2022 and 2023 and a four-time European champion, winning gold medals in the 1500 m and 5000 m in 2018 and 2022. He also won a gold medal in the 1500 m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, setting an Olympic and European record. In addition to the 1500 m, Ingebrigtsen holds European records in the mile and 5000 m, and is one of only three men to run a sub-3:30 1500 m, sub-7:30 3000 m and a sub-12:50 5000 m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Kerr (runner)</span> Scottish middle-distance runner

Josh Kerr is a Scottish middle-distance runner who competes primarily in the 1500 metres. A double World Champion, he won a gold medal in the event at the 2023 World Championships, a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, and a gold medal at the 2015 European Junior Championships. Indoors he is the 2024 World Indoor champion in the 3000 metres. He holds the world record time in the indoor 2 mile and the European record in the indoor mile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elle Purrier St. Pierre</span> American runner

Elinor Purrier St. Pierre is an American track and field athlete who specializes in middle-distance and long-distance running. She won a gold medal in the 3000 meters at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow. Purrier also represented the United States at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cooper Teare</span> American long-distance runner

Cooper Teare is an American middle- and long-distance runner. He is a two-time national champion, securing victories in the 1500 metres at the 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and in the 2024 USA Cross Country Championships. Teare has represented the United States at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships, and the 2017 Pan American U20 Athletics Championships, where he earned a bronze medal in the 1500 m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yared Nuguse</span> American middle-distance runner (born 1999)

Yared Nuguse is an American middle-distance runner who specializes in the 1500 meters. He was the 2019 NCAA Division I champion in the event. Nuguse is the North American outdoor record holder over 1500 meters and one mile, and the North American indoor record holder for the 1500 meters, one mile and 3000 meters. Since June 2022, Nuguse has competed for the On Athletics Club under coach Dathan Ritzenhein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geordie Beamish</span> New Zealand long-distance runner (born 1996)

George Beamish is a New Zealand middle- and long-distance runner, who won the 1500 metres at the 2024 World Indoor Championships. He holds the Oceania area record in the 3000 m steeplechase of 8:13.26 and the New Zealand record in the indoor 3000 m and 5000 m. He finished fifth at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in the 3000 m steeplechase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hobbs Kessler</span> American middle-distance runner (born 2003)

Hobbs Kessler is an American middle-distance runner. He competes professionally for Adidas, having turned professional directly after high school. He holds the North American U20 record in the 1500 meters, having run 3:34.36 in 2021 during his senior year in high school. He also held the world record in the road mile set at the 2023 World Road Running Championships until it was broken by Emmanuel Wanyonyi on April 27, 2024.

Morgan Beadlescomb is an American middle-distance and long-distance runner currently representing Adidas.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cole Hocker at World Athletics
  2. Cole Hocker profile at TFRRS
  3. "Cathedral's Cole Hocker leaves Oregon track team to turn pro at age 20". Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  4. Woods, David (August 1, 2021). "Cole Hocker runs from obscurity to breakout career; now he'll be tested on ultimate stage". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  5. Woods, David (December 8, 2018). "Cathedral's Cole Hocker wins national cross-country title". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  6. Mull, Cory (January 15, 2019). "Foot Locker Nationals Winner Cole Hocker Chooses Oregon". MileSplit United States. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  7. "Cole Hocker wins historic double, leads Oregon to NCAA indoor track title". IndyStar.com. March 13, 2021. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  8. Gault, Jonathan (June 12, 2021). "Cole Hocker Takes Down Yared Nuguse to Win 2021 NCAA 1500 Title in a Classic". letsrun.com. LetsRun.com, LLC. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  9. Goe, Ken (June 28, 2021). "Cole Hocker edges Matthew Centrowitz in electrifying 1,500 on final day of U.S. Olympic track and field trials". oregonlive.com. The Oregonian/OregonLive. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  10. "Cole Hocker The Real Deal, Matthew Centrowitz OUT - Men's 1500 Semis". LetsRun.com. August 5, 2021. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  11. "Oregon Ducks track Olympian Cole Hocker turns pro, signs with Nike". registerguard.com. September 13, 2021. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  12. "Oregon Ducks track star Cole Hocker announces he's joining Nike and turning pro". The Oregonian. September 14, 2021. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  13. "2022 Millrose Men's Recap – Geordie Beamish Sneaks by Teare, Hoare Takes Down Kerr". LetsRun.com. January 29, 2022. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  14. "Cooper Teare Beats Cole Hocker Again in the Mile as Both Just Miss American Record". LetsRun.com. February 11, 2022. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  15. "Cole Hocker (Cathedral), Lynna Irby (Pike) run to USA indoor titles in successive races". indystar.com. February 27, 2022. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  16. "Cole Hocker opts out of World Indoor Championships, turns focus to outdoor meet in Eugene". registerguard.com. March 1, 2022. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  17. "Injury contributes to Cole Hocker's stunning elimination from 1,500 at nationals". indystar.com. June 24, 2022. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  18. "World Athletics Outdoor Championships - News - Cole Hocker, Yared Nuguse to Represent U.S. in Men's 1,500-Meter Final in Budapest". www.runnerspace.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  19. LetsRun.com (August 23, 2023). "Josh Kerr Follows His Instincts to Incredible Upset in 1500m at 2023 World Championships". LetsRun.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  20. "DyeStat.com - News - Preview - 10 Storylines to Follow at Eugene Diamond League/Nike Prefontaine Classic 2023". www.runnerspace.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  21. "Explainer: Wild cards in the WDL Final". IDL Diamond League. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  22. "Prefontaine Classic | Results | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  23. LetsRun.com (September 16, 2023). "Jakob Ingebrigtsen (3:43.73) Tops Yared Nuguse (3:43.97) in Epic 2023 Bowerman Mile". LetsRun.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  24. Kotajarvi, Ryan (February 11, 2024). "Cole Hocker Runs Historic 2-Mile at 2024 Millrose Games". MileSplit Indiana. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  25. Woods, David (February 17, 2024). "It's an Olympic year, and Cole Hocker put folks on notice after dominant national title". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  26. LetsRun.com (March 3, 2024). "Geordie Beamish Wins Indoor 1500m Gold as Americans Cole Hocker and Hobbs Kessler Get Silver and Bronze". LetsRun.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  27. Dennehy, Cathal (May 18, 2024). "LA Grand Prix Day 1: Selemon Barega & Elle St Pierre Win 5000s As Ceili McCabe Breaks Canadian Steeple Record". LetsRun.com. Retrieved May 18, 2024.