Cole Hocker outkicks Matthew Centrowitz in the 1500-meters.

Through three rounds of racing at the trials, Matthew Centrowitz, the reigning Olympic champion in the men’s 1,500 meters, made a habit of pointing to the track whenever he was introduced to the crowd, as if to say: I own this place.

On Sunday, he discovered that he had some company. Cole Hocker, who recently finished his freshman year at the University of Oregon, outkicked Centrowitz to win the final. Hocker, who finished in 3:35.28, does not yet have the Olympic standard but could have the points (thanks to a very convoluted ranking system) to race in Tokyo.

Yared Nuguse, the Notre Dame senior, finished third, and Craig Engels was fourth.

Centrowitz led at the bell lap and appeared to be extending his lead coming off the final turn, but Hocker unleashed a massive kick, beating him across the finish by less than stride.