High School
Kessler competed for Skyline High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as the high school he attended for academics, Community High School, did not offer competitive sports. During Kessler's senior year, his father was the high school track coach. However, wanting to keep a non-professional relationship with his son, he had the renowned University of Michigan coach Ron Warhurst plan most of Hobbs' training. This allowed Hobbs to train with professional runners Nick Willis and Mason Ferlic for harder workouts while still allowing him to do easier efforts with his high school teammates.
In September 2020, Hobbs committed to compete at Northern Arizona University. [2]
On February 7, 2021, Kessler broke the U.S. high school indoor mile record by running 3:57.66 at the Randal Tyson Track Center where he placed third in the race. This broke his previous mile personal best by more than ten seconds and [3] made him the 12th American high schooler to break 4 minutes in the mile. [4] During the outdoor track season, he went on to run 8:39.04 for 2-miles at the NSAF USA Meet of Champions in Myrtle Beach, becoming the No. 4 American high schooler at that distance, [5] as well as winning his first state title in the 1600m. [6]
On May 29, 2021, Hobbs ran a 3:34.36 1500m at the Portland Track Festival. Despite still being in high school, his time was faster than the NCAA record at the time. His time also broke the North American U20 and U.S. high school records. [7] The performance also qualified him to compete at the 2021 US Olympic Trials.
He was named the 2021 Gatorade National Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
Professional
Only a day before he competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June 2021, Kessler turned professional, signing with Adidas. By turning professional, Kessler forfeited his commitment to compete for Northern Arizona University. [8]
Kessler currently trains under the tutelage of Ron Warhurst in Ann Arbor as part of the Very Nice Track Club. His training partners include Olympians Bryce Hoppel, Nick Willis and Mason Ferlic, as well as other professional runners Ben Flanagan, Morgan Beadlescomb, Nathan Mylenek, Natalie Cizmas, Alsu Lenneman, and Charlie Da’Vall Grice. [9]
2024
On February 11, Kessler placed second to Yared Nuguse in the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, in a personal best time of 3:48.66. [13] His run placed him 4th on the all-time indoor mile list. The following week, Kessler competed at the US Indoor Championships in the 1500 m where he placed 2nd behind Cole Hocker in a time of 3:38.76. By placing in the top two, he qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
At the 2024 World Indoor Championships, in the 1500 meters, Kessler ran at the front of the field for the majority of the race before getting out kicked by Cole Hocker and Geordie Beamish as he finished in 3rd for the bronze medal. [14]
On 27 April, Kessler competed in the road mile at the adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany. He finished second in the race, in a time of 3:56.18. Finishing first was Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya, who broke Kessler's previous world record of 3:56.13 by running 3:54.56. [15]
At his second Olympic Trials, Kessler placed third in the 1500m behind Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse qualifying for the 2024 Olympics and finishing in a personal best time of 3:31.53. [16] Kessler also contested the 800m, winning his semi-final heat in a personal best time of 1:43.71. In the final, he finished second behind his training partner and 2024 Indoor World 800m Champion Bryce Hoppel, again lowering his personal best, this time to 1:43.64, and qualifying for the Olympics in a second event. [17] [18]
On August 6, Kessler finished 5th in the 1500 meter final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, in a personal best time of 3:29.45. His compatriots Yared Nuguse and Cole Hocker finished 3rd and 1st respectively, marking the first time in 112 years that two Americans were on the men's 1500 meter podium. [19] [20] He also competed in the 800m, but was eliminated in the semifinals, finishing sixth in his heat. [21]
2025
On February 8, in the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, Kessler finished second to Yared Nuguse, in a personal best time of 3:46.90 while Nuguse set a new world indoor record of 3:46.63. Both Kessler and Nuguse were under Yomif Kejelcha's previous world record of 3:47.01 set in 2019. En route to the mile, Kessler split 3:31.89 for 1500 meters, an indoor personal best. [22] [23]
