PARIS, France — Former University of Oregon runner Cole Hocker is set to compete in his second Olympic Games after qualifying first in the 1,500-meter race in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.
Hocker placed sixth at the 2021 Tokyo Games in the 1,500-meter. This time around, he's ready to show the experienced he's gained over the last three years.
"I think 21, I was. I was just happy to be there (Tokyo). Very happy to be there again, but I think the bar is raised and I was like very happy with sixth place in the Olympics and but now I think it's the medal is the big goal," said Hocker.
During the trials, Hocker won by 0.27 seconds, running a blistering 3:30.59. Hocker was just glad to have made it.
"So many of these guys are so deserving of that team that making it top three was just so cutthroat. But I'm just so happy that I was the first one across the line," said Hocker. "I was like, I'm here, I'm healthy ... I just knew I couldn't set myself up better just executing on the day."
Hocker is entering the Paris Olympics as one of the top runners in the world and is relishing in the pressure.
"It was just completely different mental side of it this year and I'm just honestly really proud of myself. The way I handled that because it's just really hard," said Hocker. "The goal is definitely a medal, but I'm not going to limit myself to top three. I'm going to go for gold for sure."
Hocker will take the track for the men's 1,500-meter final on Aug. 6.