2024 Paris Olympic Games

Olympic Track And Field Evening Session Updates: Cole Hocker Stuns

Olympic Track And Field Evening Session Updates: Cole Hocker Stuns

Cole Hocker stuns the field to win gold in the 1,500, while Kerr takes second, Nuguse takes third.

Aug 6, 2024 by Bobby Reyes
Olympic Track And Field Evening Session Updates: Cole Hocker Stuns

It was another thrilling day of track and field.

There were plenty of exciting storylines coming out of today's action. We've got a running a recap here:

3:40 p.m. EST: Women's 200 Final

It had been 12 years since an American won the 200. Gabby Thomas put an end to the drought. 

Thomas stormed out of the blocks and into the lead within strides. She ran away with the gold, dominating the field, clocking 21.83.

She was the 2021 Tokyo bronze medalist. But now she has gold. 

100 gold medalist Julien Alfred closed hard to finish 22.08 for silver, while Brittney Brown took bronze in 22.20 to make it two Americans on the podium.

3:15 p.m EST: Women's 3,000 Steeplechase Final

It was kick for the ages. 

Windred Mutile Yavi stormed to gold in an Olympic record, clocking 8:52.76. Peruth Chemutai took silver in 8:53.34, while Faith Cherotich took bronze in 8:55.15.

How It Played Out

Beatrice Chepkoech set a hot pace from the gun. 

The Kenyan wasted no time stating her intentions of becoming Kenya's first gold medalist in the event. 

The lead pack cruised through the opening 1,000 in 2:55, and kept the pace rolling. With three laps to go Chemutai went to the front as the pack hit 2k in 5:57. 

Chepkoech sat in second as the field dwindled as the race hit the final laps. 

Chemutai led the pack at the bell and pushed the pace to create some separate. 

Everyone dropped except for Windred Mutile Yavi. 

The two hit the final barrier in sync, but it was Yavi who had one more gear. 

Yavi took gold in an Olympic record, over Chemutai's 8:53.34, while Cherotich was two-seconds back in 8:55.15.

2:50 p.m. EST: Men's 1,500 Final

The men's 1,500 final lived up to the hype. 

But it wasn't the storyline anyone expected. 

It was Cole Hocker with the stunner, as the American took gold in 3.27.65 for an Olympic record. Josh Kerr took silver in 3:27.79, and Yared Nuguse took bronze in 3:27.80. 

It was the first time the US had two on the Olympic podium in 110 years. Add that Hocker's performance nearly took down the previous American record.

Note: Bernard Lagat's 3:27.40 from 2005 is recognized as the current record.

How It Played Out

2021 Tokyo Gold medalist Jakob Ingebrigsten and 2023 World Champion Josh Kerr talked around each other all year, but here the finally toed the line together - and raced.

(They were in the same semifinal heat, which Ingebrigsten took just over Kerr - but they both cruised to qualify.)

Ingebrigsten went straight to the front from the gun, and led the pack through the opening quarter in a blazing 54.82

The Norwegian kept his foot to the floor through the second lap, which they hit in world record pace - 1:51.38.

Ingebrigsten gained a step on the pack as the pace began to obliterate the field.

With a lap to it was Ingebrigsten at the bell, but it wouldn't last. 

The hot pace took its toll over the Norwegian, as Kerr began his kick and seemingly had gold in the final straight. While all eyes were on Ingebrigsten and Kerr,  it was Hocker on the inside to steal the show, and Nuguse kicking hard on the outside for the final podium spot.

2:07 p.m. EST: Women's 300H Semifinals

Rushell Clayton controlled Heat 1 from the gun to the line, running 53.00, while Jasmine Jones held on to the second qualifying spot, clocking 53.83.

Heat 2 featured the greatest to do it - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. 

She wasted no time getting straight down to business. McLaughlin-Levrone made up the stagger within 200 meters and cruised away with the victory, running 52.13.

The time was the fastest ever run in an Olympic semifinal. 

"You work all year to get here," she said afterwards. "It's what you've done. It's what keeps you here. It's about executing the plan."

Behind her France's Louise Maraval brought the home crowd to its feet, as she kicked late to take the final qualifying spot, running 53.83.

Femke Bol ran patiently through the first 100 of Heat 3, before pouring on the pace. The 2023 World Champion in this event went to the front in the final 120 meters to win the heat in 52.56. Anna Cockrell finished second in 52.90. 

1:35 p.m. EST: Men's 400 Semifinals

Quincy Hall stormed to the lead over the curve and made 43.95 look easy to win Heat 1. Jareem Richards took the second qualifier, running 44.33. 

Kirani James and Muzala Samukonga took Heat 2 to the line, running 43.78 and 43.81. Samukonga's time is a Zambia national record. 

Matthew Hudson-Smith cruised away to win Heat 3 in 44.07. Michael Norman kicked late to take the final auto-qualifier, running 44.26. 

The USA qualify all three - Hall, Norman, and Christopher Bailey on time - into the final. 

Women's Weight Throw Final

Canada's Camryn Rogers took gold with a throw of 76.970meters. USA's Annette Echikunwoke took bronze in 75.48, and Zhao Jie took bronze in 74.27.

Men's Long Jump Final

Greece's Miltiadis Tentoglou took gold with a jump of 8.48-meters. Wayne Pinnock took silver in 8.36, and Mattia Furlani took bronze in 8.34.

When Are The Paris 2024 Olympic Games?

The Olympics begin on July 26 and end on August 11. The track and field events will began on Aug. 1. 

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