As a world class junior rock climber, and now this, he is easily the most talented true multisport athlete of all time.
The diversity of ability required to do both at a high level is unmatched.
You think so? Do triathletes or decathletes not count? Idk about anyone else but I hate lifting/swimming/cycling for exercise, and love climbing/running. Climbing and running are kinda on 2 opposite ends of the spectrum, but climbing is great for your core and back, and it's pretty aerobic, so I think it complements running pretty well.
Show me a triathlete who is world champion level in one event and national champion level in another and we MIGHT have a discussion. But even then the skill level of triathlon is negligible compared to top climbing.
Show me a triathlete who is world champion level in one event and national champion level in another and we MIGHT have a discussion. But even then the skill level of triathlon is negligible compared to top climbing.
What about Lukas Verzbicas? He won the World Junior Triathalon championships and won like half a dozen national championships in HS. It wasn't at the senior level, but afaik Kessler hasn't seriously climbed since HS.
He's now run 3:31 and 1:43 at the Olympic Trials. Wightman ran 1:43/3:29 the year he won WCs. Based on the two rounds before his 3:31, and the 53 last lap, I think he's ready for a 3:29 in a Monaco type race. And he's only 21. I'm feeling better and better about this prediction.
It's probably gonna take a 3:28 to medal this year between the form Jakob, Kerr, Nuguse, and Hocker have shown (probably 3:27 shape). I put the odds of Kessler medaling kinda low, but Warhurst got Nick Willis bronze (really gold once you remove convicted dopers) in 2008, and another medal in 2016, and Nick Willis isn't the same talent that Kessler is. 2028 is probably gonna be a better shot, but with a 1:43/3:31 championship double, you can't count him out. Especially if he's going to be better at the Olympics, which I trust Warhurst to do.
Also how freaking good is our 1500m team this year?? 3:43 guy Nuguse, 3:30 with a 52 close guy Hocker, and 1:43/3:31 21 year old guy Kessler.
The "aussie kid" (Cameron Myers) didn´t break Jakob´s 1500m age 17 record. He broke Jakob´s mile age 17 record (which is weaker).
Apart from that: I agree that Hobbs could be a future gold medalist or at least a medalist in OG or WC 1500m. If he continues his progression it could be as soon as next year in the WC.
He has a chance of being an Olympic champion but it's an outside one. Jakob is still just 23, Laros is 19 and Cam Myers is only 18. There will be plenty of Kenyans emerging over the next few year too, as usual.
You think so? Do triathletes or decathletes not count? Idk about anyone else but I hate lifting/swimming/cycling for exercise, and love climbing/running. Climbing and running are kinda on 2 opposite ends of the spectrum, but climbing is great for your core and back, and it's pretty aerobic, so I think it complements running pretty well.
Show me a triathlete who is world champion level in one event and national champion level in another and we MIGHT have a discussion. But even then the skill level of triathlon is negligible compared to top climbing.
Kessler is not world champion level, but any of the top tri guys is at the very top. Some even combine triatlon with being pro cyclists.
He has a chance of being an Olympic champion but it's an outside one. Jakob is still just 23, Laros is 19 and Cam Myers is only 18. There will be plenty of Kenyans emerging over the next few year too, as usual.
It’s funny the obsession with age on this. Getting better is more important than where he stands age-wises He’s got 3 strong cracks at it but Josh, Yared, Jakob, Cole stand in the way for the next one and LA. He’ll need another jump at 1500 to get there. Laros and Reynold may take a step up. Myers is a bit of a projection but obviously has talent.
He has a chance of being an Olympic champion but it's an outside one. Jakob is still just 23, Laros is 19 and Cam Myers is only 18. There will be plenty of Kenyans emerging over the next few year too, as usual.
It’s funny the obsession with age on this. Getting better is more important than where he stands age-wises He’s got 3 strong cracks at it but Josh, Yared, Jakob, Cole stand in the way for the next one and LA. He’ll need another jump at 1500 to get there. Laros and Reynold may take a step up. Myers is a bit of a projection but obviously has talent.
I have a feeling like Laros will be his biggest challenge in terms of getting gold, I don't see him getting it this year nor in 2028 but once Kessler's 29 for the 2032 Olympics, all the other big runners will be past their prime or retired while Kessler will still be in his prime (based of the fact that the people Warhust has coached seem to have really good longevity such as Willis, Mason Ferlik, and Ben Flanagan).
Laros running 1:44 in the 800 while his best event is the 1500 at age 18 is really worrisome, he looks really effortless while running and can increase his endurance as he gets older.
Show me a triathlete who is world champion level in one event and national champion level in another and we MIGHT have a discussion. But even then the skill level of triathlon is negligible compared to top climbing.
Kessler is not world champion level, but any of the top tri guys is at the very top. Some even combine triatlon with being pro cyclists.
What championships has Kessler won in climbing?
Climbing really the perfect compliment to running, good for core as pointed out, but real benefit is lean pound for pound muscle strength and endurance. Builds amazing strength without bulk and uses muscles, joints and bones in different ways than running to improve injury resistance.
Might end up being a very prescient prediction, and I hope it comes true. I think this guy is the most gifted American “miler” we’ve ever seen, though Nuguse and Hocker are ridiculously good. The 1:43/3:29 chops are correct, and he’s only going to get better. He just needs to prove he can race in a championship setting outdoors globally. He’s right there, but I would be shocked if he medaled this year. But I surely hope he makes the 800 team too. Dude is probably in low 1:43 shape.
I do see talent; I think Hobbs is definitely capable of making the USOT and 'perhaps' an Olympic 1500 final. I say perhaps because you need to be a solid 3:32 guy to make it through the rounds with killing yourself and to date he has only run 3:32 once. However, there are at least a half dozen athletes in the world who can run his PR pace for 3 laps and kick hard down to a few seconds faster. Most of these athletes have more speed and strength. A good indicator of potential is what an athlete does in a shorter or longer event; Hobbs does not have a really fast 800/3000/5000. Cheruiyot (T) for example is a 1:43x 800m runners and Jakob has a 7:24 .00 PR. - With all of that said, Coach Ron has earned the benefit of doubt and perhaps he sees something that we don't, therefore nothing is impossible.
He ran a great 2:16.x 1000m
5th fastest U20 ever?
thats pretty good at 19
Listen Jakob IS that 15/3k all the way to 5k guy.. he already is an all time great at 22
I dont think you would be a flop if you were not ever that good lol
This is the point. No one is saying that Kessler is equal to Ingebrigsten. Clearly, he's not.
Ingebrigsten is arguably the greatest ever. Not being as good as him is to be expected. Kessler is obviously a truly great runner. If you cannot see this, you don't know the sport.
Beating Hocker and Nuguse at 1500/mile is not easy but Kessler has the tools. I expect these three will take turns beating one another for the next several years. Right now, Kessler is a small step behind.
He has a chance of being an Olympic champion but it's an outside one. Jakob is still just 23, Laros is 19 and Cam Myers is only 18. There will be plenty of Kenyans emerging over the next few year too, as usual.
It’s funny the obsession with age on this. Getting better is more important than where he stands age-wises He’s got 3 strong cracks at it but Josh, Yared, Jakob, Cole stand in the way for the next one and LA. He’ll need another jump at 1500 to get there. Laros and Reynold may take a step up. Myers is a bit of a projection but obviously has talent.
Is Laros is a thing this year to begin with. I see 2 races 800m only this year with 1.46 and 1.47 (place 6).
This whole discussion is biased to some category of runners.
Hobbs could another copy of Alan Webb. A time trialer with no real shape for his distances.