What happened to Hobbs Kessler?

I hope we are not seeing Drew Hunter 2.0

Hunter ain't done.

Maybe like Webb.

Awesome in HS, stalled for 2 years...then highs and lows afterward

I think Kessler, and to a lessor degree Hocker, are young kids with a few dollars in their pockets now. They also have school, business/marketing responsibilities and increased training. It might take a while to adjust for some people.

I think Kessler will be fine and Hocker will get his kick back.

You can stick a fork in Drew Hunter. He will never make a US team. The US has too many guys running really well and our bench is deep.

Injuries

Well, he raced a few weeks ago, with a relatively disappointing result in the 1500 and dropping out of the 800. That seemed to indicate a lack of fitness and/or an injury he has been dealing with, and I guess whatever the reason, Ron decided racing isn't the best path forward right now.

If I had to guess, I'd say they are either trying to replicate the training that got Hobbs into great shape in 2021, or recovering from an injury, or focusing on building for longer term goals like 2024 and beyond.

I agree it is a little frustrating not knowing, though.

Why is Hunter done?

He is 24 years old.

He won the USATF road 5k champs in 2021 six months ago.

Beat some decent runners.

1.Drew Hunter 13:53
2. Matthew Centrowitz 13:53
3. Sydney Gidabuday 13:53
4. Graham Crawford 13:54
5. Eric Avila 13:55
6. Brian Barraza 13:56
7. Andrew Jordan 13:56
8. Joe Berriatua 13:56
9. Abbabiya Simbassa 13:58
10. Kasey Knevelbaard 14:00

Finished 5th in the YS indoor champs 3k, 2 secs behind the winner Cole Hocker. Three months ago

Not sure why so many people on letsrun think this guy is done

It's not only about running somewhat fast time. It's also about racing and Drew has not managed a significant win or placement in some time.

I love a good success story and wish Drew nothing but the best but I just don't see it.

I think a poor club choice and the lack of speedy teammates hurts him also.

Cole Hocker trains with Cooper Teare. Rupp trained with Farah. Fisher trains with MO.

Hunter?

This gets addressed from time to time lately. He is coming off injury and starting to round out his comeback. Ran at U of M meet two weeks ago 800m (1:49). He has smartest coach/mentor in the biz in Warhurst/Willis et. al., I suspect they are making his return purposeful but safe.

I dont think Hocker should get lumped in with Kessler at all for their first year as a pro. He ran a 3:50 indoor mile, won 2 US titles indoors (Ik the fields werent amazing), and ran 13:08 a few weeks ago.

Losing to Teare early season wont look so bad when Teare runs 3:30 or under this year.

Who says losing to Teare looks bad? Teare is an absolute f'ing beast who never gets enough credit.

Hocker's kick will come as the year progresses. I fully expect both of them to run under 3:50 at the Bowerman Mile. I think a bunch of guys come in around 3:48 - 3:50.

although kesller is not coming out of Oregon as a "first year" pro. He is coming off HS...and a HS record for the mile. So, give him a year or so.

Didn’t learn the Drew Hunter lesson.

It seems for some people there is not in between. You're either making national teams or you're done.

Hunter may never be top 3 at Nationals. Kessler the same or they might.

But there's room in the sport for more than just 3 per event.

Kessler runs Thursday night at Mt. Sac. in the 1500. He is fine and I really think will be in the future.

I would expect him to run better and like it or not, this is a long game..as much as I would love to see wild improvements, like a lot of folks , he just turned 19. I would expect things to progress.

Everyone knows I am a big fan and supporter..but more of Ron than anything else, he knows what he is doing.

usatf.org

USA Track & Field | Status of Entries

Open link

Here ya go

I would have liked to see Hobbs and any other distance prospect run in college, get that team camaraderie and training and racing, especially at NAU. Ron Warhurst and Nick Willis know what they are doing. Still, it's not at all the same, and it's mentally draining not to have collegian teammates. I hope he's healthy and fit for this race and can build into USATF well. Also, fun to see Sahlman test himself against this level in the 800m.

mentally draining?? What the heck is wrong with you? You bring this type of crap up all the time. It is you that is mentally draining, not whether he has College teammates or not.

He was in a recovery boot I believe in a pic online while out at altitude with his team. He clearly was injured and not training for a while this winter.

Hunter‘s got time still, but this may be a big reason why he hasn‘t hit it yet. He was given a lot of power, and structured his setup so that no one could really challenge him (mentally or physically). You see this with some stars in the NBA, too. They just want a bunch of “Yesmen.”

Hunter took on a coach that he could ignore when he didn’t like things and a bunch of dudes that were very good, but he very clearly wanted to be the top dog. Competition and fighting to climb the latter makes stars.

With Kessler, goodness, just chill. Give him a second ffs.