Hobbs Kessler

Hobbs Kessler (born March 15, 2003) is an American middle-distance runner. He competes professionally for Adidas, having turned professional directly after high school. He holds the North American U20 record in the 1500 meters, having run 3:34.36 in 2021 during his senior year in high school.

In June 2024, he officially became an Olympian, having finished third in the 1500m and second in the 800m at the 2024 United States Olympic Trials. He is the first American male athlete to qualify for the Olympic 1500 and 800 double since 1976. He briefly held the world record in the road mile set at the 2023 World Road Running Championships until it was broken by Emmanuel Wanyonyi on April 27, 2024.

Rock climbing


Kessler was a national-caliber rock climber in his youth. He represented the United States several times, including at the 2019 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships in Arco, Italy where he placed 34th in the Lead Youth A Male category. In March 2019, he climbed Southern Smoke (5.14c) at Red River Gorge in Kentucky – his hardest route so far. He's stated that one of his goals is to be the first person to run a sub-four-minute mile, climb a and a.

High School career
Kessler competed for Skyline High school in Ann Arbor, Michigan. During Kessler's senior year, his father was the high school track coach. However, wanting to keep a non-professional relationship with his son, he had the renowned University of Michigan coach Ron Warhurst plan most of Hobbs' training. This allowed Hobbs to train with professional runners Nick Willis and Mason Ferlic for harder workouts while still allowing him to do easier efforts with his high school teammates.

In September 2020, Hobbs committed to compete at Northern Arizona University.

On February 7, 2021, Kessler broke the U.S. high school indoor mile record by running 3:57.66 at the Randal Tyson Track Center where he placed third in the race. This broke his previous mile PR by more than ten seconds and made him the 12th American high schooler to break 4 minutes in the mile. During the outdoor track season, he went on to run 8:39.04 for 2-miles at the NSAF USA Meet of Champions in Myrtle Beach, becoming the No. 4 American high schooler at that distance, as well as winning his first state title in the 1600m.

On May 29, 2021, Hobbs ran a 3:34.36 1500m at the Portland Track Festival. Despite still being in high school, his time was faster than the NCAA record at the time. His time also broke the North American U20 and U.S. high school records. The performance also qualified him to compete at the 2021 US Olympic Trials.

He was named the 2021 Gatorade National Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Professional career
Only a day before he competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June 2021, Kessler turned professional, signing with Adidas. By turning professional, Kessler forfeited his commitment to compete for Northern Arizona University.

Kessler currently trains under the tutelage of Ron Warhurst in Ann Arbor as part of the Very Nice Track Club. His training partners include Olympians Bryce Hoppel, Nick Willis and Mason Ferlic, as well as other professional runners Ben Flanagan, Morgan Beadlescomb, Nathan Mylenek, Natalie Cizmas, Alsu Lenneman, and Charlie Da’Vall Grice.

On October 1, 2023, Kessler broke the 1 mile road record by running 3:56.13 in Riga at the World Road Running Championships.

On December 9, 2023, Kessler placed 3rd in the Kalakaua Merrie Mile, in a time of 3:57.12.

At the 2023 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Kessler took first in the 1500 m, running an indoor personal best of 3:33.66 by fending off a hard charging Jake Wightman in the final metres.

On February 11, 2024, Kessler placed 2nd to Yared Nuguse in the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, in a personal best time of 3:48.66. His run placed him 4th on the all-time indoor mile list. The following week, Kessler competed at the US Indoor Championships in the 1500 m where he placed 2nd behind Cole Hocker in a time of 3:38.76. By placing in the top two, he qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.

At the 2024 World Indoor Championships 1500m, Kessler ran at the front of the field for the majority of the race before getting out kicked by Cole Hocker and George Beamish as he finished in 3rd for the bronze medal.

At his second Olympic trials, Kessler placed third in the 1500m behind Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse qualifying for the 2024 Olympics and finishing in a personal best time of 3:31.53. Kessler also contested the 800m winning his semi-final heat in a personal best time of 1:43.71. In the final he finished second behind his training partner and 2024 Indoor World 800m Champion Bryce Hoppel again lowering his personal best, this time to 1:43.64, and qualifying for the Olympics in a second event.

Personal life
Hobbs comes from a family of runners. His father, Michael, ran collegiately at Eastern Michigan University. His mother, Serena, also is a runner and made the 2012 US Olympic Trials in the marathon.