He was literally the 4th fastest American this year what do you mean “good gap”
He was literally the 4th fastest American this year what do you mean “good gap”
This contiuing focus on College is baffling to me, to do what? Learn how to run faster? That IS his profession and would have been four/5 years later without a ton of money and a possib;e injury that would kill his marketability.
College is completely over rated anyway, if it wasn't why are people wanting Student Loan Debt to get paid off by tax payers, that they and their parents signed for.
His contract, I’m sure has an education clause and considering he attended a Magnet school nothing is preventing him from going to an Ivy. However, he doesn’t appear to come from the mindless left. MI is an outstanding school, different level compared to NAU. Maybe he stays with Ron and trains in MI. He can do altitude training when needed.
Did he make a mistake? No! Adidas showed him the $.
Yes. He should stay in high school until he's ready to win a world title.
BYURun4Her wrote:
Clearly talented for high school, but there’s a good gap between him and elite runners. Doubt he makes much as a “pro” and he could have gotten great training and exposure at a place like NAU or Oregon or a great education at an Ivy, Duke, or Stanford.
Print the cash and they will come. He didn't sign for chump change.
Luv2Run wrote:
Alexi Santana wrote:
He probably gets paid ~$400K/year considering what Drew Hunter makes…don’t minimize that type of money
Out of curiosity, what are the terms of contracts like these? For instance, are there performance markers that he has to hit each year in order for the contract to continue? We hear $X for Y years but I doubt that is not really guaranteed.
Also what does he have to pay for? Does he write the check to Warhurst each month (and how much would that be)? Does he have to pay for massages, travel (obviously once he starts to gain traction meet promoters pick that up). Does the contract provide for health insurance?
I have been around many top runners (Olympians and medal winners), but never talked about this side of the sport.
Travel and coaching costs are covered. You are correct it’s not fully guaranteed, but is set up a lot better than Nike contracts are.
briswiss wrote:
Sounds like he’s getting way too much money for anyone to consider it a mistake. I think the bigger mistake is by adidas. If kessler doesnt compete for wins at a pro level it just looks bad for them. Them sponsoring Drew Hunter has turned me off from adidas big time. Can’t stand drew and everyone he associates with. Hopefully Kessler doesn’t turn out to be as big of a disappointment
Investment in future potential is never going to be a sure thing. If they never make bets that don't pan out, then they are not taking enough risks. Even if you think Hunter's a long-term failure (jury's still out in my opinion, ask me in 5 years), that doesn't necessarily mean it was a bad decision given the facts at the time.
real question is why did adidas spend likely $2 million+ to get this kid in adidas shoes and kit when he was already going to go to NAU and wear adidas shoes and kit. As a pro, he will likely be racing less and so possibly just less TV time for him. Oh well, kid def deserves it, and I ordered 30 Ambitions so I guess it's working
Someone ask Billy Beane
I am a big fan of the collegiate system. It would have helped Webb and Hunter in the long run.
Next year... as in the World Championship or next year as in 3 years from now for the next Olympics?
BYURun4Her wrote:
Clearly talented for high school, but there’s a good gap between him and elite runners. Doubt he makes much as a “pro” and he could have gotten great training and exposure at a place like NAU or Oregon or a great education at an Ivy, Duke, or Stanford.
SMH......Why run for a university. He is already faster than anyone ever in college. How many high school records are superior to the college record? Doesn't say much about mid distance running in American colleges.
Also what makes you think he won't get an education?
Allison Felix and Noah Lyles didn't run for American colleges, neither did Bolt or Shelly Ann Frazier.
Hobbs may not have quite the mainstream media attention that Alan Webb had in 2001 but don’t forget that his 1500m record is actually a faster run than Webb’s mile record. While I also wish we could’ve seen him in the final, a HSer running the equivalent of a sub 4 minute mile two days in a row might be unprecedented. In a sport like running definitely take the money when you can get it & more power to him. He can still get educated and will only be 21 in the next Olympic leaving him many many more opportunities for Olympic/World teams. Anyone know if there is still time/opportunity to go after Webb or LV’s HS records?
ck3237 wrote:
Agree, School is not going anywhere.
People keep talking like he has to choose... Mason Ferlic is still studying (albeit a PhD) around his running, so there's no reason Hobbs couldn't enrol in a Michigan University alongside training.
It seems that running for a school might not cost an athlete any money anymore, so you lose the college experience and gain only independence. As for King's claim about colleges, it's absurd and bizarre to say that they aren't worth going. In unemployment rate and lifetime earnings, and even longevity, it is an absolutely easy decision to go to college. Of course, here we're talking about a guy with a good to great contract (none of us knows what it is). Usually when they go pro, they go to college but obviously don't compete. That was true for [former USC student and pro that we hear too much of at this Trials], for Webb (GMU), for Hunter (Boulder), etc. Michigan would be a great education. NAU will not be bad because you get top pedigree for profs at any American school, pretty much. Is it a mistake? Well, we have to see, but I often get the sense that Americans who go pro early in distances regret missing the experience of college. We know that performance-wise, it doesn't hurt the Kenyans or Ethiopians to skip college.
RunRaider wrote:
Drew Hunter is getting a degree on adidas’s dime. It sounds like Hobbs is going to do the same.
Adidas paid for Ajee to go to Temple while she trained with Coach Thompson/Juventus in Philly.
BYURun4Her wrote:
Clearly talented for high school, but there’s a good gap between him and elite runners. Doubt he makes much as a “pro” and he could have gotten great training and exposure at a place like NAU or Oregon or a great education at an Ivy, Duke, or Stanford.
"Good gap between him and elite runners"
He ran the Olympic standard & under the collegiate 1500m record & is supposed to be super undertrained.
Even if he flames out, put some good money in the bank over the next 4 years that wouldn't have been there. Is his value the same in 4 years with some NCAA titles? What if he doesn't improve or if he gets injured? I'm never faulting a kid for taking money instead of going the NCAA route, which chews up & spits out tons of athletes. The college racing schedule is brutal. NAU would have been no exception. Seems like he's in a great situation with Ron & can stay there and not have to peak 3 times in ~6 months.
And what NCAA programs did Sebastian Coe and Jakob Ingebrigtsen run for?
Right, good move by young Mr Kessler.
The only thing that is confusing to me is why he is still going to NAU and how that situation will work out. Is he still being coached by Smith and training with the team or is he sticking with Warhurst and just training with whoever he can find? I would have thought if he wanted to do college he would stay in Michigan and keep working with Warhurst, Ferlic and Willis
Where are these $1-2M numbers coming from. He has like 10k followers on Instagram and didn’t even qualify for the Olympic trials finals. Hate to burst your bubble.