Megan Turner
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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf may not have qualified for the Olympics, but he put on an impressive performance during his 100-meter dash on Sunday.
Metcalf first hinted he would be running in the USA Track and Field Golden Games and Distance Open in Walnut, California, last week and finished the heat in last place with a 10.36-second, 100-meter dash.
“I’m just happy to be here, excited to have the opportunity, thank God for the opportunity to run against world-class athletes like this,” Metcalf said. “Just to test my speed against world-class athletes like this. . . . They do this for a living. This is very different from football speed.”
Before the race, Metcalf’s Olympic ambitions caught the attention of the track world.
“There’s not a sprinter in the world who will let this guy think he can run with them. They will destroy him,” said track agent and former 110-meter hurdler Renaldo Nehemiah, who also played three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. “It’s a noble gesture but an exercise in futility. It really is. No offense to DK, I’m a fan of his. I applaud him for wanting to find out — and find out he will.”
After the race, broadcasters emphasized that Metcalf isn’t a sport-specific athlete but rather an “all encompassing athlete.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tweeted his thoughts after the heat, saying 10.36 is crazy and that he respected the time.
After the heat, broadcasters said Metcalf’s ability to keep up with the pack should encourage every fast NFL guy to give it a go
Ato Boldon, the former Olympic sprinter who called the race for NBC Sports, said he was impressed with Metcalf’s performance and that he believes that some of the fastest players in the NFL could have solid track careers with the right training, per NBC Sports.
“This should encourage every fast NFL guy,” Boldon said. “Tyreek Hill, are you listening? This should encourage every fast NFL guy that the Olympic trials are not that far away.”
Before the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl last year, Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill said he was serious about his goal of qualifying for the U.S. Olympics.
It seems Mahomes thinks the Cheetah’s turn has come.
He’s carrying so much more muscle and body weight than the sprinters. Quite impressive.
Everyone gets a trophy lol
Don’t know until you try. Kudos.
Impressive even for a guy from the University of Mississippi. He needs some coaching to help with his lean as he is running completely upraight.
Yeah, Tyreek. Give up making 20 million a year to make 500K a year to run in a straight line.
That’s pretty impressive to me. Number one, Metcalf is carrying 30 to 40 pounds more than all these guys while he runs, and secondly he hasn’t been training in technique like these guys have all their lives. If he wanted to do it, Give him a couple of years perfecting his technique, trimming down, and he may be winning these events.
Total respect for all these athletes, their abilities and their dedication. With that said I have become a huge D.J. Metcalf fan after seeing him compete but more importantly listening to his words. What a great human being.
I could have finished last.
LOL
I love that he wasn’t afraid to fail. It was entertaining, and provides perspective for game speed on the field. Track guys have tried out and some have made NFL teams, so why not have some NFL guys try their hand in track. I think it helps both sports. I also think if DK lost some weight and trained specifically for the 100m, he might be close to the top of that heat. It just goes to show how much these incredible athletes fine-tune their bodies for their specific sport.
Bob Hayes