Cordell Tinch, who wowed the track and field world with a historic outdoor season, has decided to turn pro. Tinch won Division II titles for Pittsburg State in the long jump, high jump and 110m hurdles. He had two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

One month after the collegiate season, Tinch ran a world-leading 12.96 in the high hurdles at the Trackwired Arkansas Grand Prix in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The time was labeled as a “all-dates collegiate best” since the meet was held after the official NCAA season. The mark is .02 seconds faster than Grant Holloway’s NCAA record and cemented Tinch as one of the best high hurdlers in the world.

Tinch ran under 13 seconds two other times earlier in the season, but both were wind-aided. He ran 12.97 (+3.0) at his conference championship and 12.87 (+6.0) at the Division II Championships. 

Tinch started his collegiate career at the University of Kansas where he won the Big 12 title in the high hurdles in 2019. In 2020, he left Kansas and enrolled at Coffeyville Community College in the fall but never competed with the team. Tinch didn’t run another race until he transferred to Pittsburg State this January.

He made an immediate impact. Tinch won Division II indoor titles in the 60m hurdles and the high jump. Outdoors, he only lost one race in the high hurdles. He also shined in the long jump and high jump, putting up personal bests of 8.16m and 2.22m, respectively. 

What can’t this man do? @cordizzlepinch
110H- 13.07
LJ- 8.24
HJ…. TBA pic.twitter.com/kfwGajd8hu

— Pitt State Track & Field (@GorillasTrack) May 7, 2023

All of these performances seemed to position Tinch to be the first ever Division II athlete to become a finalist for The Bowerman. However, Tinch was not named as one of the 10 finalists for the award. 

Though the men’s 110m hurdles team for the United States is extremely competitive, Tinch has a good chance at making the U.S. squad at next week’s USATF Outdoor Championships. Reigning world champion Grant Holloway will have a bye so the United States will get to send three athletes in addition to Holloway. 

Tinch’s 12.96 is tops in the world, but is followed closely by Holloway’s 12.98, Daniel Roberts’ 13.01 and Devon Allen’s 13.04.