Norfolk State University senior sprinter, Kai Cole, put the HBCU track and field world on notice with his performances at the MEAC outdoor track and field championships. Cole ran an Olympic trial automatic qualifying time of 10.05 seconds in the 100m dash, clinching the MEAC title and a top 10 national ranking.
An Olympic trial automatic qualifying time is listed in the USATF qualifying information as “All athletes who have met the Automatic standards will be qualified for the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials, regardless of field size.”
In the 200m event, Cole clocked a time of 20.55 seconds, earning himself another MEAC championship title and surpassing the Olympic minimum mark.
An Olympic trial minimum qualifying time is listed in the USATF qualifying information as “There is a minimum standard in place for all events (with the exception of the 20km Race Walk) and fields will not be filled beyond these minimum standards. For the 20km Race Walk, fields may be filled by the Race Walk Committee for athletes who do not meet the Automatic standards.” This means the HBCU speedster will qualify if his time ranks him within the number of runners allowed in the field size.