In A Race For The Ages, Two Americans Go Under The World Record Time

By David Woods for DyeStat

John Nepolitan photo

NEW YORK – If Cole Hocker has the best kick in the world, as Grant Fisher suggested, and Fisher beat him, what does that make Fisher?

A world record-holder.

“That really couldn’t have turned out any better,” Fisher said.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

In a Millrose Games race that was historic in so many ways Saturday, Fisher beat the world’s foremost miler in a 3,000-meter classic in which both Midwesterners ran under the world indoor record.

Fisher, bronze medalist at 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the Paris Olympics, passed Hocker on the homestretch and finished in 7:22.91. Hocker was second in 7:23.14, a massive 12-second drop from his PB of a year ago (en route to two miles).

Fisher ran the closing 400 in 56.34, Hocker in 56.76.

Fisher, 27, of Grand Blanc, Mich., and Hocker, 23, of Indianapolis, were under the record of 7:23.81 set by Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma in 2023.

Both smashed the American record of 7:28.23 set by Yared Nuguse, also in 2023.

The last American man to break a distance record in a world indoor or outdoor championships event was Khalid Khannouchi in the marathon in 2002. If you confine such records to the track, no American had done so since Horace Ashenfelter lowered the 3,000-meter steeplechase record to 8:45.4 – more than 72 years ago, in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

(Bob Schul broke the two-mile world record of 8:26.4 in 1964, before he won 5,000-meter gold at the Tokyo Olympics.)

It was such a consequential moment that Hocker, coming off 1,500-meter gold at Paris, became choked up afterward in speaking about the outcome. He said he was not this emotional at the Olympics.

“When you have given 100 percent to something, like I’ve done in this buildup, that’s the risk you run,” he said. “You have to do that knowing that there’s a point that it’s not going to go your way. But I did everything I could up until now.

“It’s so early, and I don’t want to put too much emphasis on this race and what’s needed. I’m having an incredible build right now, and I definitely thought I would win that with a 7:23. And I knew a good time was in store tor today. The win would have been obviously nice.

“I can’t pinpoint exactly what I’m feeling. It’s kind of an interesting thought process to work through.”

Hocker said he had an “overwhelming sense of confidence,” even though he was 0-3 vs. Fisher. Hocker unexpectedly seized the lead with three 200-meter laps left but said his legs “were starting to go” over the last 200.

“Looking long-term, I think that’s going to be keystone race in my career, coming back from the Olympics, being introduced this season for the first time as a gold medalist,” he said. “There’s a lot of pressure on my shoulders, at least that I internalized.

“It takes someone of that caliber – a double Olympic medalist – to beat me. Incredible race by Grant. He definitely set the tone early. I’d like to say I kept it going.”

Fisher said he was “kind of in shock” at the end. He said neither runner would have been as fast without the other. He was surprised when Hocker took the lead and resolved to “latch on” and not allow a gap to grow.

“I knew I had only one move left,” Fisher said. “It’s a testament to Cole it took a world record to beat him.”

Jimmy Gressier of France was third in 7:30.18 and Ky Robinson of Australia fourth in 7:30.38, both national records. Americans Dylan Jacobs and Cooper Teare were fifth and sixth in 7:30.45 and 7:30.62, both PBs.

Fisher and Hocker next race in indoor 5,000s at Boston University.

Fisher is aiming at Woody Kincaid’s American record of 12:51.61 on Feb. 15. Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele has held the world record of 12:49.60 since 2004.

Hocker and training partner Teare are to race Feb. 21, targeting the World Championships standard of 13:01.

Contact David Woods at dwoods1411@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.