Hobbs Kessler Speaks After His 3:34.36 High School Record: “That Was Pretty Cartoonish”

By LetsRun.com
May 30, 2021

DyeStat caught up with Hobbs Kessler after his 3:34.36 high school national record 1500m at the 2021 Portland Track Festival. The full video is below.

“I really just wanted to make the Trials (the OT standard is 3:37.50). I thought 3:36 at best. [Coach] Ron [Warhurst] said 3:36.8. That was in my brain of what I could run. That was pretty cartoonish. It doesn’t seem real,” Kessler said. “I wanted to be a factor in the race.”

Article continues below player.

Kessler’s competitive streak took over on the final lap. He said he was determined to beat training partner and Olympic steeplechase hopeful Mason Ferlic, who passed him with 500m to go. “I just saw Mason ahead of me and thought ‘I can’t let him get me.'”

Ferlic finished 9th in 3:35.45.

Up next for Kessler: the Michigan state meet, where he will triple, running the 800, 1600, and 4×800. Kessler quadrupled at the regional meet, but decided doing the 3200 as well is too much.

After that is the US Olympic Track & Field Trials. Qualifying for that race was Kessler’s goal in Portland and he vastly exceeded that.

“I would have had fear of missing out with Ron and Mason there [if I didn’t qualify for the Trials]. I really wanted to watch Mason compete for a spot on the team, and hopefully win the race. I just wanted to be there hanging out with everybody. It’s just such a good experience for the future, the practice rounds, those tactical races,” said Kessler.

Now that Kessler has dipped under the 3:35.00 Olympic qualifying standard, has he changed his goal?   “[Making the] finals [at the Trials] is the goal. I really want to be up there with the best in the country.”

He showed tonight he already is.

Related
Want More? Join The Supporters Club Today
Support independent journalism and get:
  • Exclusive Access to VIP Supporters Club Content
  • Bonus Podcasts Every Friday
  • Free LetsRun.com Shirt (Annual Subscribers)
  • Exclusive Discounts
  • Enhanced Message Boards