Following his qualification for the Olympic trials, HBCU sprinter Kai Cole was acknowledged by Gold medal track & field athlete Noah Lyles.In May, Cole clinched his place at the Olympic Trials with an impressive showing at the MEAC Outdoor Championship.

He achieved a time of 10.05 seconds, meeting the Olympic trial automatic qualifying time for the 100-meter event and securing a top 10 spot nationwide. Additionally, he clinched victory in the 200-meter event with a time of 20.55 seconds, meeting the Olympic trials' minimum qualifying standard of 20.60 seconds.

The Olympics Trial securing performance received praise from football players and “The King of NIL” Rayquan Smith on X, who posted Cole's amazing numbers that secured him the victory.

“Kai Cole from Norfolk State running Wind Legal 10.05 #9 IN THE NATION,” Smith said.

In the comments of the post, Lyles posted, “I see you Kai!”

Lyles' display of support for Cole is truly remarkable, especially as Cole aims to compete alongside him as an Olympian. Lyles and Cole share a connection from their time in high school. Per a 2022 article by Norfolk State Athletics, Cole and Lyles attended Alexandria City High School (formerly T.C. Williams HS) which was where the 2000's Disney film led by Denzel Washington Remember The Titans was based.

Cole, Noah and his brother Josephus all were on the track team with Cole and immediately went on to success. The Lyles brothers signed 8-year deals with Adidas right after finishing high school. They stayed connected, with Cole supporting Noah through his college journey. Noah clinched a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and now boasts the fifth-fastest time in history for the 200m dash (19.50 seconds).

Meanwhile, Cole forged his path to success. He excelled at every stage of his athletic journey, clinching the state 6A championship in the outdoor 200 meters during his senior year of high school. Additionally, he secured the state runner-up title in the 55m and achieved third place in the 100m as a senior. Cole's prowess on the track was evident when he became an all-state performer in the 55m, 100m, and 200 meters during his junior year.

Cole became a Division III national champion in the 60m dash as a freshman, clocking a PR of 6.77 seconds. He was also a conference champion, first-team All-American in the 100m dash, and placed eighth in the 100m at the D-III nationals. Cole's top wind-legal times were 10.70 in the 100m and 21.33 in the 200m. He broke the school records for the indoor and outdoor 200m, as well as the 60m dash.

Cole now looks to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Olympic Trials, which starts on Friday, June 21st. The Olympic Trials will be broadcast on NBC.