Daily Ducks Olympic Digest: Aug. 6
08/06/24 | General, Track and Field
A daily recap and preview of current and former UO athletes competing at the 2024 Paris Games.
The Day That Was …
For the second straight day, a UO athlete claimed Olympic gold in Paris. This time, it was former Oregon track standout Cole Hocker who shocked the world with an Olympic-record 3:27.65 in the men's 1,500 meters at Stade de France.
In what is considered a significant upset, Hocker sat in third as the lead group made the final turn before he overtook both Josh Kerr of Great Britain and Norway's Jakob Ingebrigsten – both of whom were considered favorites in the event.
Hocker is the ninth Olympic gold medalist in Oregon track and field history – and first since 2016 – while he is the second man in program history to win the 1,500 meters (Matthew Centrowitz, 2016). Hocker posted a time of 3:32.54 in the semifinals to finish third in his heat, and nine runners turned in faster times over both semifinal heats on Sunday.
On the women's side in the 1,500 meters, Susan Ejore, Jessica Hull and Klaudia Kazimierska each advanced to Thursday's semifinal. Ejore, representing Kenya, finished third in her heat with a time of 3:59.01, with Hull (Australia) and Kazimierska (Poland) finishing second and fourth, respectively, in heat three. Hull ran 4:02.70 while Kazimerska clocked in at 4:03.49.
In the women's 400-meter hurdles, Shana Grebo narrowly missed out on qualifying for Thursday's final. The France native finished fourth in her semifinal heat with a time of 54.84. The top two finishers and the next two fastest times moved on to the final.
In men's basketball, Oregon alum Dillon Brooks and Team Canada were knocked out by host France in the first quarterfinal matchup, with France earning an 82-73 win to advance to the semis. Brooks finished with just two points on 1-of-9 shooting to go with three rebounds.
A Look Ahead …
Wednesday will be another full day of women's basketball and track and field events in Paris. The quarterfinal round of the women's basketball tournament gets underway, with all four former Ducks competing in the Paris Games qualifying for the medal round.
Maite Cazorla and Spain get things started against Belgium at 5:30 a.m. PT, with the winner advancing to the semifinals to play the winner of Germany and France. Nyara Sabally and Satou Sabally lead Germany against the host nation at 9 a.m. PT on Wednesday.
Sabrina Ionescu and the top overall seed United States draw Nigeria in their quarterfinal matchup at 12:30 p.m. PT, with the winner meeting either Australia or Serbia on Thursday in the semifinals. The U.S. eyes its eighth straight Olympic gold medal.
The first round of the women's 100-meter hurdles, featuring former Duck Alaysha Johnson, begins at 1:15 a.m. PT. Johnson, representing the United States, will run in the first of five heats, with the top three in each heat and the next three fastest times advancing to Friday's semifinals.
Emmanual Ihemeje begins qualification in the men's triple jump Wednesday. Ihemeje, competing for his home country of Italy, is currently ranked 10th in the world and will begin the qualification round at 10:15 a.m. PT.
For the second straight day, a UO athlete claimed Olympic gold in Paris. This time, it was former Oregon track standout Cole Hocker who shocked the world with an Olympic-record 3:27.65 in the men's 1,500 meters at Stade de France.
In what is considered a significant upset, Hocker sat in third as the lead group made the final turn before he overtook both Josh Kerr of Great Britain and Norway's Jakob Ingebrigsten – both of whom were considered favorites in the event.
Heart of a champion. @OregonTF | @NBCOlympics
— GoDucks (@GoDucks) August 6, 2024
pic.twitter.com/TzU1kerc2F
Hocker is the ninth Olympic gold medalist in Oregon track and field history – and first since 2016 – while he is the second man in program history to win the 1,500 meters (Matthew Centrowitz, 2016). Hocker posted a time of 3:32.54 in the semifinals to finish third in his heat, and nine runners turned in faster times over both semifinal heats on Sunday.
WOW. ??
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2024
A STUNNING upset in the men's 1500m as AMERICAN COLE HOCKER takes gold! #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/wlq81lbvSO
On the women's side in the 1,500 meters, Susan Ejore, Jessica Hull and Klaudia Kazimierska each advanced to Thursday's semifinal. Ejore, representing Kenya, finished third in her heat with a time of 3:59.01, with Hull (Australia) and Kazimierska (Poland) finishing second and fourth, respectively, in heat three. Hull ran 4:02.70 while Kazimerska clocked in at 4:03.49.
In the women's 400-meter hurdles, Shana Grebo narrowly missed out on qualifying for Thursday's final. The France native finished fourth in her semifinal heat with a time of 54.84. The top two finishers and the next two fastest times moved on to the final.
In men's basketball, Oregon alum Dillon Brooks and Team Canada were knocked out by host France in the first quarterfinal matchup, with France earning an 82-73 win to advance to the semis. Brooks finished with just two points on 1-of-9 shooting to go with three rebounds.
A Look Ahead …
Wednesday will be another full day of women's basketball and track and field events in Paris. The quarterfinal round of the women's basketball tournament gets underway, with all four former Ducks competing in the Paris Games qualifying for the medal round.
Maite Cazorla and Spain get things started against Belgium at 5:30 a.m. PT, with the winner advancing to the semifinals to play the winner of Germany and France. Nyara Sabally and Satou Sabally lead Germany against the host nation at 9 a.m. PT on Wednesday.
Sabrina Ionescu and the top overall seed United States draw Nigeria in their quarterfinal matchup at 12:30 p.m. PT, with the winner meeting either Australia or Serbia on Thursday in the semifinals. The U.S. eyes its eighth straight Olympic gold medal.
The first round of the women's 100-meter hurdles, featuring former Duck Alaysha Johnson, begins at 1:15 a.m. PT. Johnson, representing the United States, will run in the first of five heats, with the top three in each heat and the next three fastest times advancing to Friday's semifinals.
Emmanual Ihemeje begins qualification in the men's triple jump Wednesday. Ihemeje, competing for his home country of Italy, is currently ranked 10th in the world and will begin the qualification round at 10:15 a.m. PT.
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