Cole Hocker

Cole Hocker (born June 6, 2001) is an American middle and long-distance runner. He competed collegiately for the University of Oregon, where he won multiple NCAA titles. Hocker announced in 2021 he would forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility to run professionally, signing to run under Nike.

Running career

High school

Hocker grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, and attended Cathedral High School. In high school he was second in the 2017 IHSAA Cross Country State Finals & won in '18. He also won the 2018 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships and finished second at the 2018 Nike Cross Nationals.

College

Hocker ran for the Oregon Ducks. 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. 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 7th and 8th all-time fastest times 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.

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.

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.

Professional

2021: Professional debut

On September 13, 2021, Hocker announced his decision to turn professional, forgoing his further participation on the University of Oregon team. Hocker became a Nike-sponsored athlete, and continues to be based in Oregon training under coach Ben Thomas. 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. 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.

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. However, he opted out of the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, turning his focus instead to the outdoor championships in July. An injury at the US National Track and Field championships in June 2022, prevented him from qualifying in the 1500M for the World Outdoor Championships.

2023

Hocker finished third at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, qualifying him for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. He place 8th at the world championship final, en route to a new personal best of 3:30.7.

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, based on a rule that allows the host nation to enter an athlete who is of adequate standing in each event. In the race, Hocker finished sixth in a personal best of 3:48.08, the fourth fastest time ever run by an American in the mile .