Sprinter Cheickna Traore Inks Professional ContractSprinter Cheickna Traore Inks Professional Contract
Matt Rudisill

Sprinter Cheickna Traore Inks Professional Contract

Penn State’s 200-meter national champ signs first pro deal

Opens in a new window Traore's NCAA 200m Title Opens in a new window Traore on Instagram Traore on X

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – 200-meter NCAA Champion Cheickna Traore signed his first professional running contract following his outstanding 2024 campaign with the Nittany Lions, he announced in an Instagram post Thursday.

“Penn State has provided me with numerous invaluable opportunities, for which I am profoundly grateful,” Traore said. “The steadfast support from my coaches—especially coach Rizzo—and the training staff, along with the camaraderie of my teammates, have made this experience truly exceptional. Although my time at Penn State was only a year, the memories I have made will last a lifetime.”

Cheickna Traore

Traore joins the pro circuit following of one of the greatest individual track seasons in school history. The Ivory Coast product finished his 2023-24 season with Penn State a three-time First Team All-American, a three-time Big Ten Champion, a four-time school record-holder, and an Olympian. Traore’s title in the 200-meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June was Penn State’s first in the event since Barney Ewell won it in 1941 when it was still contested at 220 yards. Traore left a lasting mark on the Penn State track & field program in just one season with the team that went beyond winning a national title.

“It was an honor to coach Cheick this year,” said assistant coach Brandon Rizzo. “His work ethic and energy were contagious, and I believe his impact from just one year with this program will inspire future Nittany Lions to become the best versions of themselves.”

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The superstar sprinter achieved the Olympic standard in the 200-meter dash with a 19.93 PR at the NCAA East Region Preliminary meet, obliterating Penn State’s school record in the event. When he raced this summer in the Paris Olympics, he became the Nittany Lions’ first men’s 200-meter Olympian since Mike Sands ran the event in the 1972 Munich games.

Traore's Path to Paris

“What an amazing season Cheick had,” said head coach John Gondak. “To make the step up from Division III to Division I, be NCAA runner up indoors and win the NCAA Championship outdoors over 200 meters was so impressive to witness. We were really happy to see him do that in a Penn State uniform, and we are thankful for the success he helped bring to our program this year. It is going to be exciting to see what he continues to do as a professional athlete. Penn State track & field wishes him great success!”

Traore will forego a final season of outdoor eligibility to join the professional ranks.

FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS 

Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateTFXC) and X/Instagram (@pennstatetfxc).

Keep tabs on Traore as he begins his professional journey by following him on Instagram/X (@traoxe).

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