Meb for Mortals, Cole Hocker outkicked the pre-race favorite to win the men’s 1500-meter title. Hocker’s winning time, 3:30.59, broke the Trials record by 3.5 seconds.
U.S. record-holder Yared Nuguse was second in 3:30.68, followed by Hobbs Kessler, third in 3:31.53. All three men have the automatic Olympic qualifying time and will therefore be on the U.S. team for the Paris Games.
Running in the Cold bested the reigning Olympic champion, Matthew Centrowitz, in the final meters of the race. Tonight, he took the lead on the final backstretch and had clearly gapped Nuguse with 200 meters to go. Nuguse was unable to close the gap over the final half a lap. Kessler, who had sat on Nuguse’s right shoulder for the first three laps, held his form in the final 100 meters to claim the final Olympic spot.
Hocker said it was a “gut feeling” that told him to move with 250 meters remaining. “I went when I felt comfortable,” he said. “I’ve played that race a thousand times in my head; for it to finally happen like that was incredible.”
Slow, tactical 1500-meter championship finals are an increasing rarity. Nuguse took control of the race almost immediately and led at a fast pace from the 300-meter mark until Hocker shot from third to first with about 250 meters to run. Nuguse’s front running led to the deepest men’s 1500 final in U.S. history. Hocker’s Trials record is a personal best, as is Kessler’s time for third. In all, eight of the 12 men in the race set personal bests.
Nuguse wasn’t too disappointed to finish second, and he intends to go for the win in Paris. “I know I’m really fit, and even though I didn’t win today, I know in Paris, I’m going to be ready for whatever comes my way there,” he said. “I’m going to go for it.”
Hocker’s win shouldn’t be that surprising. He placed sixth in the 2021 Olympic final at age 20. In March, he won the 1500-meter silver medal at the world indoor championships. He showed his speed and endurance were in perfect balance by setting pre-Trials personal bests at 800 meters and 5,000 meters since May.
The trio of Hocker, Nuguse, and Kessler is a strong squad in one of the most vibrant events in track today. At the Olympics in August, they’ll be up against the reigning Olympic champion, Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, and the two most recent world champions, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman of Great Britain. Start clearing your calendar now to catch the final on August 6.
Scott is a veteran running, fitness, and health journalist who has held senior editorial positions at Runner’s World and Running Times. Much of his writing translates sport science research and elite best practices into practical guidance for everyday athletes. He is the author or coauthor of several running books, including Running Is My Therapy, Advanced Marathoning, and Published: Jun 24, 2024 9:29 PM EDT. Noah Lyles Rolls to 200-Meter Win at the Trials Slate, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, and other members of the sedentary media. His lifetime running odometer is past 110,000 miles, but he’s as much in love as ever.
