Bryce Hoppel (born September 5, 1997) is an American middle-distance runner who specializes in the 800 metres. He is the reigning 800 m world indoor champion having won gold at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow. He also is a 6-time U.S. champion and two-time NCAA champion over the distance.
Hoppel competed for Midland High School in Midland, Texas.[1] At Midland High School, Hoppel won the 2016 Texas 6A State Track & Field Championship with a time of 1:49.67, included an undefeated season in the 800 meters. Hoppel broke school records in the 800 meters (1:49.67), 1,600 meters (4:10.51) and 3 miles (14:54.00) while at Midland, while graduating in the top-10 of his high school class.
College
While at the University of Kansas, Hoppel was a five-time All-American, two-time National Champion and four-time Big 12 Champion. In 2019, Hoppel completed a sweep of both the indoor and outdoor NCAA 800 meter titles, becoming the first male from the University of Kansas to win an NCAA title in the event. Hoppel's 21 race unbeaten streak began during the indoor season in 2019, lasting until the USATF Outdoor Championships on July 25. He trained under Coach Michael Whittlesey in Lawrence, Kansas.
Along the way of Hoppel's breakout season, he set the No. 5 fastest 800 meter time in NCAA history, running a 1:44.41 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 7, 2019. Hoppel's time was just off the Kansas school record of 1:44.3 (m) set by the great Jim Ryun in 1966. Hoppel also set the Kansas indoor school record of 1:46.46 on May 9, 2019, while breaking facility records at the Birmingham CrossPlex and John McDonnell Field, among others.
While at the University of Kansas, Hoppel thrived under the coaching of Head Coach Stanley Redwine and Assistant Coach Michael Whittlesey.
Professional
Upon the conclusion of his junior season, Hoppel announced he would forego his final year of NCAA eligibility to pursue a professional running career. In his first competition representing Team USA, Hoppel placed fourth overall at the Pan-American Championships in Lima, Peru, running a 1:47.48.
Hoppel announced on August 17, 2019 that he had signed a professional contract with Adidas.
Hoppel qualified at the 2019 World Championships in the 800 m, after finishing third at the US Championships. After completing a full three seasons of collegiate running, Hoppel secured a 4th-place finish in the 800 meter final on October 1, 2019, one year and one month after his season-opening cross-country race at the Bob Timmons Invitational on September 1, 2018. Remarkably, he was able to set another personal best, finishing a long season in style with a 1:44.25 performance.
In August 2020, Hoppel competed in the Monaco Herculis meeting, where he was narrowly defeated by fellow American and reigning 800 meter world champion Donavan Brazier. In that race, Hoppel dropped his personal best in the 800 meters to 1:43.23.
Hoppel began his 2021 campaign with a 1:44.37 indoor 800 meter in Fayetteville, Arkansas. At the time, this was the 2nd fastest indoor 800 meter in American history, behind only American record holder Donavan Brazier.
On February 13, 2021, Hoppel competed in the 1000 meter run at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. In that race, he won comfortably, setting a new American record in the indoor 1000 meters with his time of 2:16.27.[2]
On June 21, 2021, Hoppel qualified for the US Olympic team in the 800 meters.[3] Hoppel finished third in the Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon with a time of 1:44.14, qualifying him for the Tokyo Olympics later that summer.[2]
At the 2020 Olympics Bryce finished in 3rd place in his round 1 qualifying heat with a time of 1:45.64, qualifying him for the semifinals where he finished in 5th place in his heat with a time of 1:44.91. His semi-final performance was Hoppel's second fastest time of the year but was not enough for a place in the Olympic final.
To open his 2022 season, Bryce won the Millrose Games 800 with a time of 1:46.05 on 29 January. A few weeks later on 6 February at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Bryce placed in 2nd in the 800m with a time of 1:46.08 behind Spaniard Mariano García.[4]
Competing at the US Indoor Championships, he successfully defended his title 800 m national indoor title running a time of 1:45.30, qualifying him to compete at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade. In Belgrade, Hoppel earned a bronze medal, placing third behind Mariano Garcia in first, and Noah Kibet in second, running a tim eof 1:46.51 in the process.
On 26 June 2022, he earned his first US Outdoor title, winning the 800 m in a time seasons best time of 1:44.60. He was unable to replicate that successful showing at the World Championships the next month in Eugene, placing fourth in his heat and not advancing to the semi-finals.
In 2023, Hoppel successfully defended both his US indoor and outdoor 800 m titles. The former with a 1:45.92 performance in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the latter running a 1:46.20 at Hayward Field.
On 21 July 2023, Bryce clocked his first sub-1:44 since 2020, running 1:43.95 to take 6th place at the 2023 Monaco Diamond League.
Competing at the World Championships in Budapest, Hoppel cruised through the heats, earning a place in the final. In the final, he finished 7th in a time of 1:46.02.
On 11 February 2024, Hoppel took first at the Millrose Games 800 m, in a time of 1:45.54.[5] The next week, Hoppel won his 5th straight US 800 m title (counting both indoor and outdoor), with a 1:46.67 clocking in Albuquerque.
On 3 March 2024, Hoppel won the 800m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in a world leading time of 1:44.92, improving upon his bronze medal from 2022[6]
Hoppel is the son of Monty and Rita Hoppel and has two older siblings, Kelsey and Megan. His father is the general manager for the Midland RockHounds Double-A minor league affiliate of the Oakland Athletics in the Texas League.[7]
At the University of Kansas, Hoppel studied business finance. He is Catholic.[8]
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