Ben Flanagan (3:44.98) takes down Hobbs Kessler (3:45.06) at 2022 Jesse Owens Classic in Kessler's outdoor debut

Yes, he is coming off injury. I would assume not a devastating one since he's back so soon but yes. Lets give him some time to steep, he is surrounded by the most positive people in track that I have ever seen.

I’ve got him at 340 if things go well . not set up for a 335

Clearly Nick knows what's right here, I think a solid run is all they are looking for, doesn't have to be any specific time. Ron knows what his fitness is from workouts this certainly is not the be all , end all some want to make it.

Of course, if he is coming off an injury that changes things

This is how he is listed in Entries LOL...

Kessler Hobbs
Very Nice TC

Thanks for the downvote, Alan.

yeah I love that reference to when he first ran that indoor race and no one knew which order his names went

I'll be at the meet in Columbus. Weather is beautiful -- 71 with 7 mph wind. Wish more pros would come to this meet! I guess there just aren't many in the midwest.

Do you know anything about racing? Training? Peaking? Do you actually follow track and field?

Have you ever seen someone win a race in a time that's NOT their PR?

3:45 for 2nd

results.timingfirst.com

{{ngMeta['og:title']}}

{{ngMeta['og:description']}}

Link:results.timingfirst.com/meets/15036/ev...

Does anyone know the splits?

We had another thread on this race where we had people make predictions to win a free tshirt. In that thread, Nick Willis predicted something very close to what happened.

I said on our SC bonus podcast that I didn't care about the time. Like with Jager's debut last week, all I wanted to see was Kessler blast the field over the final 300. That did not happen and it's hard not to view it as a little disappointing.

Flanagan is a long distance guy with a 3:57.75 pb (3:43.60). The third placer in this meet - Nick Miller (1:48.62 / 3:45.95 before today) - ran a pb to get third just 0.05 behind Kessler.

Willis is preaching patience which is important. Willis and Ron are being smart. They don't want this to be turn into Alan Webb's freshman year at Michigan 2.0 - just 21 years later. That year, expectations were super high for Webb. I remember talking to people close to Webb (my college roommate was embedded with him writing Sub-4) and they were like, "Alan's crazy, he's pissed he's not faster and thinks he's going to run 3:46 in the mile this year." Well crazy in the short term maybe. Tne 3:46 in the mile didn't happen then, but it did happen eventually.

63 , 204 , 302 ish .

exactly like Alan Webb way back when

If he's coming off of injury and not fit, he shouldn't be "racing". Rust buster or not. If he hasn't been injured, he should be faster than early last year. Since he ran something like 3:57 indoors last year, it wouldn't have been surprising if he ran 3:38 early this outdoor season. Which he didn't. I didn't know his only competition was Ben F. in this race, but it seems like a fit Hobbs could run 3:45 in practice. This was glorified practice not a race.

Grant Fisher was running no where near what this kid ran in HS. No offense to Fish, obviously an amazing talent and has developed a lot.

When you run 3:34 and have solid 800's at 18, you are a miler. By the way that 1500m mark converts to a 3:51-52 mile. GTFO what are you on about.

Even coming back from injury this is a big disappointment, especially being outkicked by a 10k/marathoner.

Adidas spent huge money on Drew Hunter and Hobbs Kessler out of high school and it looks like they both may end up being bad investments.

A lot of “runners” on here who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, who understand nothing about professional sport, and who know nothing of periodization and peaking.

This is a 19 year old kid in April. Take a chill pill.

Maybe this won't be his year, but this is April, he's coming off of an injury, and Ron Warhurst knows a little something about getting guys ready for the big races in June and July. The real question is whether he's in better than 3:35 shape on June 23 and June 25 for U.S. heats and finals and 3:31 shape July 16-17 and 19 for World's.

I had a Hobbs Kettle.

Prolly the best kettle I ever owned. Quality.

This Kid is quality and is in the right environment.

NW is a huge bonus for him.