Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf is one of the fastest players in the NFL and is as explosive an athlete as they come. We've seen his speed on the football field on numerous occasions in the NFL, but now the Seahawks and fantasy football star will be taking on a new challenge. He is going to attempt to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in the 100 meter dash.
Metcalf played track in high school but has focused on football in recent years. Still, that won't stop the dynamic, chiseled athlete from taking a chance at qualifying for the 100 meter event for the Olympics. On Sunday in Eugene, Ore., Metcalf will be competing for an automatic qualifying spot in the U.S. Olympic Trials, and that will be a true test of just how fast he is.
This all came together very quickly, so naturally, NFL and Seahawks fans alike have a lot of questions. How can DK Metcalf qualify for the Olympics? What time will he have to run to be competitive in the fight for spots on the team? And what could his clocked time end up being?
Here's everything you need to know about Metcalf's upcoming 100 meter dash and how to watch the NFL star in action on the track.
MORE: Watch DK Metcalf's track meet live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
How to watch DK Metcalf in USATF Golden Games and Distance Open
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: NBC, NBC Sports
- Live stream: NBCSports.com, fuboTV
Metcalf's run and the USATF Golden Games and Distance Open will air on the NBC networks starting at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. You can watch the event live on NBC or NBC Sports or stream it live via the NBC Sports app. You can also stream the event live with fuboTV, which offers a seven-day free trial.
What is DK Metcalf's 100 meter time?
Metcalf was a track athlete in high school, but he did not compete in the 100 meter dash. However, he was a part of a 4x100-meter relay team that posted a time of 41.51 seconds, a Mississippi state record. When taking the average speed of the runner per 100 meters into effect, Metcalf's split would have been in the 10.38-second range for a 100 meter event.
According to Oxford High School track and field coach Chris Bush (via Yahoo Sports), Metcalf typically ran “low-10 splits” on his leg of the 4x100 relay.
In addition to his 4x100 relay success, Metcalf finished second in the 5A state championship in both the 110-meter hurdles (14.89 seconds) and the triple jump (46-feet, 5 inches), per Seahawks.com's John Boyle. So, while he's far removed from it, he was once a productive track star.
As far as how Metcalf's NFL measurables compare, he clocked 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, which converts to about a 11.83 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
However, that doesn't count for the increasing speed he would pick up the longer he runs, so it's more likely that Metcalf will be able to clock somewhere close to his top speed on the field. His two fastest plays of the year came when he reached a speed of 22.64 miles per hour (mph) while tackling Budda Baker against the Cardinals and on a six-yard reception where he logged a speed of 21.66 mph. That would make his potential 100 meter time fall somewhere between 9.88 and 10.33 seconds.
So, if Metcalf's speed lives up to what he's already put on tape, he will have a chance to qualify for the Olympics.
MORE: Who were the fastest players in the NFL in 2021?
How can DK Metcalf qualify for the Olympics?
American track and field athletes have until June 6 to hit the qualifying standards in order to compete in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, which will be held June 18-27 in Eugene, Oregon. If Metcalf meets the qualifying standard of 10.05 seconds for the men's 100 meter, he would move on to the Trials, where he would then need to finish top three in his event to make the Olympic team. It's an extreme longshot.
If Metcalf fails to automatically qualify for Trials, he'll need to have one of the 32 fastest times overall to earn a spot (the 100-meter cutoff was 10.16 seconds in 2016 and 10.28 seconds in 2012). Eight men have already automatically qualified for Trials in the 100 meter, according to World Athletics, leaving 24 spots remaining.
2021 Olympics qualifying schedule
The USATF Golden Games and Distance Open are just one of the remaining qualifying events for Olympic track and field athletes this year. After May 9, there will be six more events to qualify before the U.S. Olympic Team Trails begin in late June. Opening Ceremonies for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo are scheduled for July 23.
| Date | Event | City, State |
| May 9 | USATF Golden Games and Distance Open at Mt. SAC | Walnut, CA |
| May 18 | USATF Open | AP Ranch, TX |
| May 22 | USATF Throws Festival | Tucson, AZ |
| May 23 | adidas Boost Boston Games | Boston, MA |
| May 25 | USATF Invitational | Prairie View, TX |
| May 29 | Chula Vista Field Festival | Chula Vista, CA |
| June 6 | USATF Showcase | Prairie View, TX |
| June 19-20 | U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field | Eugene, OR |
MORE: Inside DK Metcalf's insane NFL Combine performance
What is the 100 meter world record?
Usain Bolt holds the world record in the 100 meter dash. Bolt clocked a blazing 9.58-second time in the 100 meter at the 2009 IAAF World Championships. Incredibly, that is 0.11 seconds faster than the next-highest finisher, USA's Tyson Gay, who clocked a 9.69-second time just a month after Bolt broke the record.
Meanwhile, if Metcalf reached his peak calculated time of 9.88 seconds, that would tie for the 29th-fastest time in world history, and still a good 0.3 seconds off Bolt's pace. If Metcalf finishes with any time 10.1 or below, he would be among the top 350 competitors in track and field history.
Usain Bolt's 40 yard dash time
Bolt ran the 40-yard dash at the 2019 Super Bowl. He clocked 4.22 seconds in the event, which tied the NFL Combine record held by current Giants receiver John Ross.
The impressive part of Bolt's run? He did it while wearing sweats and sneakers and was just doing it for fun at age 32. Were he gave it his all, he almost certainly would have been able to break the 4.2 mark and dazzle NFL fans. But hey, settling for a record-tying performance isn't half bad.
