Luck can test you, but if you know track and field, you know talent never goes to waste. That’s exactly the story of Cordell Tinch, the 24-year-old American hurdler who’s faced a tough 2025 so far. Despite being a two-time Diamond League meeting winner and currently ranked #3 in the men’s 110m hurdles world rankings behind Grant Holloway and Rasheed Broadbell, fate hasn’t exactly been kind to him last week. After starting 2025 with high hopes and a personal best of 12.87 seconds set in May, Tinch hit a rough patch, one disappointing race that left fans wondering if he could turn it around. But when the moment called, he answered.

On 9th June, Tinch entered the FBK Games in Hengelo, where he was lined up against strong international track and field stars that included none other than Jamaica’s 2016 Olympic champion Omar McLeod and fellow American Dylan Beard, whose best time stands at 13.10 seconds. With competition this fierce, it was the perfect stage for Tinch to remind everyone why he’s a rising star in the hurdles world. And boy, did he deliver.

From the gun, Tinch exploded off the blocks, clearing each hurdle with flawless precision. He crossed the finish line first in 13.10 seconds, a time that, while not beating his personal best, was enough to leave the field in the dust. Omar McLeod, the Jamaican favorite, could only manage 13.42 seconds, well behind Tinch’s dominant pace.

The rest of the field trailed further back, with Michael Obasuyi (13.45), Timme Koster (13.59), Roger Iribarne (13.61), Job Geerds (13.66), Milan Trajkovic (13.73), Manuel Mordi (13.75), and Dylan Beard clocking 15.19 seconds. This win wasn’t just a race victory; it was a statement.

After suffering a bitter loss in his last Diamond League meet, Cordell Tinch finally secured his fifth outdoor season win with this 13.10 performance. But the question remains, when exactly did he lose that previous match? Technically, it wasn’t even a clear defeat, but in track and field, even the tiniest margin can cost you everything. That’s exactly what happened to Tinch.

Cordell Tinch went from cellphone salesman to track and field star

Being a cellphone salesman just a few years ago, Cordell Tinch probably didn’t imagine he’d be running through hurdles on the world stage so fast. It took some time and a wild ride for him to get here. After stepping away from a football scholarship at the University of Minnesota, Tinch reignited his passion for track at Pitt State, a Division II school. Fast forward to 2025, and he’s not just running; he’s making history.

At the Shanghai Diamond League meet on May 3, he shocked everyone with a scorching 12.87 seconds in the 110m hurdles, tying for the fourth-fastest time ever, matching a mark set by Olympic champ Dayron Robles back in 2008. This was his second straight Diamond League win after a world-leading 13.06 seconds in Xiamen, where he beat Grant Holloway. But not every race in track and field went his way.

Come June 6 at the Rome Diamond League, Tinch was off to a great start, quick off the blocks and locking in a solid rhythm. Yet, in a heart-stopping finish, Swiss hurdler Jason Joseph just barely edged him out. Both clocked 13.14 seconds, but Joseph’s lean at the line sealed the win by a fraction of a second. The competition was fierce, with top names like Dylan Beard and Jamaica’s Orlando Bennett pushing the pace.

What makes Tinch’s story even more inspiring is the comeback vibe. After turning pro in track and field in 2024, he overcame a mid-season surgery and narrowly missed the U.S. Olympic team. But instead of giving up, he bounced back by beating world record holder Grant Holloway in Xiamen and then lighting up Shanghai with that historic run. Now, all eyes are on him as he aims to lock down a spot on Team USA for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.