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Cordell Tinch went to college on a Football scholarship, but soon found he preferred Track and Field. Then the pandemic happened and he came home and got a job. At that stage, there were no thoughts about completing his education, or pursuing Track as a career. Three years went by, and then he received a phone call. It was the beginning of his return to college and to the sprint hurdles.

Since 2023, he’s risen through the rankings to become one of the fastest 110 metre hurdlers in the sport’s history. There have still been bumps along the way. Carrying an injury in Olympic year, he finished fourth at the US Trials and wasn’t selected for Paris 2024. But that set-back was just more fuel for what he’s been able to achieve in 2025. He ran 12.87 seconds to win the Shanghai Diamond League meeting, the joint fourth fastest time in history. But he knows that it will be the Tokyo World Championships which define his season and his career so far.

Cordell explains his journey to this point and how he looks after his mental health, with help and support from his family who are never more than a phone call away. We also discuss how important friendships are on the international circuit, where all of those airports and hotels can potentially feel pretty lonely. He tells us about imposter syndrome, and how he’s finally getting over that feeling.

Cordell is an athlete who has had a completely different route to the top from just about anyone else who has been our guest in five seasons of The Warm Up Track. It’s pretty clear from hearing him describe how and why he’s got to where he is that talent also needs the opportunity to blossom, and that requires key people at key moments having your best interests at heart. Cordell Tinch doesn’t believe he belongs in the same conversation as the all-time greats of sprint hurdles yet, but many who have seen him compete think it’s only a question of time before that changes.

Image: USA's Cordell Tinch (R) celebrates after the men's 110m hurdles event during the Shanghai/Keqiao Diamond League athletics meeting in Keqiao, Shaoxing in China's eastern Zhejiang province on May 3, 2025. (Photo by Pedro PARDO / AFP via Getty Images)