Kessler Update - 3:35 in Berlin

He ran well. Passed CPT and in turn was passed by Mechaal late. Two pretty good runners

When I add rojo's comment it will not post and tells me Please do not use profanity!

Huh?

Seems the name of the 2nd place finisher triggers this! How did rojo get his post up?

3:35.69 for Kessler. 4th place finish. Probably not what he wanted but its not a poor race. Middle of the road effort I would think. Problem is that everyone runs fast now. He seems to being left behind a bit. Younger guys are running faster too. He should have something left later this month. Has been training while others were in Budapest. Good things are ahead, I would think.

I wonder who’ll get the at-large 1500 bid in Eugene. You’d think Hocker/Teare over Kessler.

Got beat by 3:30 runners in Mills and Mechaal. Actually a good run. I would rate it a B+. Mills was just behind Nuguse and Kerr in Zurich.

In a fast time trial race Kessler seems capable of sub 3:32 now

Why hasn't Kessler run 3:25 yet? Two years ago, the collective LRC hive mind believed that Hobbs Kessler would destroy the record by now. It was a mortal lock!

looks like he beat the people he should have and lost to those who you would have guessed. not great, not terrible.

as of now, he is just another guy who might get our 3rd spot in paris. relatively healthy nuguse and hocker have separated from the rest.

Ah the great LRC “that time is *worth* that time - x seconds.” Actually, 3:35-mid shows he can run 3:35-mid right now.

Kessler tightened up at the end. Maybe he's injured.

Kessler nearly fell down, I think. Watch in slow mo at 2:39.8. Super easy to miss, but his head suddenly drops out of site. Mechaal, just ahead of him, looks briefly shaken, then Kessler's head pops back up. I'm guessing Kessler clipped Mechaal and nearly went down hard. So, he brakes hard at 450 to get out of traffic (maybe needlessly hard, losing a lot of momentum). Then he nearly crashes to the track at the bell. Then hammers the next 100 meters, covering it in about 13.2 from lane two, roughly equal to a 12.6 from lane 1--maybe too much that early. But he still closed the final 300 in low 40 and the final 400 in about 53.4. Not bad. Hope he can build on this learning experience with two or three more races before the season ends.

Makes total sense. Jakob running a 13:11 recently means he's only capable of a 13:11 now.

He is not racing enough. Does he even like running? Maybe he wants to rock climb. He owes it to track fans everywhere to devote his considerable talent to racing a lot more. After all, we pay his income. Without track fans he is nothing. If he's not going to devote himself entirely to the sport, then he should make room for people who respect the sport.

I would not rate it that high. B minus. He was beaten by guys who have run fast on OTHER days, but did not when he was beaten by them (this time). In the end he ran 3:35.7. Not bad but not real good. Guys are running fast all over the world. 3:35.7 is fine but I'm sure Kessler was not satisfied. He's got 2-3 races left, I imagine.

I don't know if you knew this, but there was actually this thing called the "world championships" that just happened. It was kind of a big deal in the Track and Field world. Between then and the national championships, not a lot of athletes were racing, which included Hobbs Kessler. Now that the world championships are over, people who did not attend are racing again. Glad to help fill you in.

This is actually not true at all. Everyone and their grandma was racing between National Champs and world champs, and everyone was setting PBs.

Kesslers last track race was the USATF national meet on July 8th. 2 months ago.

Since July 8th to now, there has been a track 1500m (or mile) race available pretty much every weekend between the USA & Europe.

Europe was lighting up with track 1500m races up until August 12th (week prior to World champs). Meanwhile, the same was occurring in the United states even during the World champs!

Apparently Kessler just came off a training block, it would actually make more sense if he was injured post USAs for not racing. Otherwise he just needs to not fear the starting line if he's not 100%. Kid needs to race more.

Unfortunately that will be difficult now, Europe track season shuts down in 5 days time (September 10th). Hopefully he can get at least one more race in, what a shame.

Nah bro, the pace was too hot for him but he tried to hang on until 1200m and ran out of steam in the last stretch.

In short: he Hockered that race.

Grant Fisher is entered in the 3000. I wonder if Kessler has found any other decent Euro meets to enter before the season shuts down. Looks like slim pickings at the World Athletics Continental Tour page. Maybe he's aiming for the 5th Avenue Mile. That wouldn't give him additional track racing experience, but he'd likely be up against a strong field, if last year's race is any indication.

800 in some meet on 9/10? I think? did not make cut in the one above.