AUSTIN (KXAN) — American Cole Hocker wasn't supposed to win the men's 1,500-meter run Tuesday at the Paris Olympics, but he ran the race of his life and did it, anyway.
Hocker ran an Olympic-record time of 3 minutes, 27.65 seconds with a sizzling kick in the final 75 meters to stun race favorites Josh Kerr (Great Britain), Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) and the entire running world.
"It took everything," Hocker said. "The physical side is one thing. I knew I was in top physical shape — I'm in the best shape I've ever been in — so I knew I could take full advantage of that. The mental side is almost harder. The pressure felt crushing and as the moment gets closer it gets built up more and more. I'm so relieved to have this done with no regrets at all."
Hocker was running along the inside rail coming around the final corner tucked behind Ingebrigtsen and Kerr, and when the Norwegian moved away from the inside lane, Hocker hit a gear no one on the track seemed to know he had. He burst past Kerr and Ingebrigtsen then threw his hands up in triumph after he crossed the finish line. He began the bell lap in fifth place alongside American Yared Nuguse who also used a big kick to finish with bronze.
"It was surreal," he said. "It was unlike anything I've ever experienced. With 50 meters to go, I was fully conscious that this was the Olympics and that I was going to win. I'm still trying to grapple with that."
Kerr finished in silver position .14 seconds behind Hocker while Ingebrigtsen fell off the podium in the final 100 meters, slipping from the lead to fourth place.
The Oregon Ducks alum ran a personal best by more than three seconds in a race that was supposed to be a showdown between Kerr and Ingebrigtsen, the reigning world and Olympic champions.
