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Earlier today, Virginia graduate student Shane Cohen announced that he will be turning pro and signing with Nike. News of the pro deal comes shortly after it was reported that Nike has signed nine different NCAA distance stars to NIL deals.
Cohen first began his college career at Tampa where he became a national-caliber half-miler at the Division Two level. As a 1:48 (800) runner with multiple D2 All-American honors, the veteran middle distance runner joined the University of Virginia as a graduate transfer to finish his eligibility.
During his time with the Cavaliers, Cohen went from "good" to "great" to "elite," continuously improving with each passing meet.
This past spring, the UVA star cut-off a jaw-dropping total of 3.6 seconds from his 800-meter PR, recording an outstanding time of 1:44.97 at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships. On that stage, Cohen perfectly timed his kick to earn a slight upset win and secure his first national title.
However, Cohen's actual 800-meter PR of 1:44.65 would come at the 2024 Olympic Trials earlier this year. On that stage, the newly-signed Nike pro would place 6th overall in the 800-meter finals.