Hobbs Kessler named Gatorade National Track and Field POTY
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (BVM) — Hobbs Kessler has emerged on to the national track and field scene time and again over the past year. Now, he has earned perhaps the top honor any high school athlete can get, as Kessler was named the Gatorade National Track and Field Player of the Year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty exciting,鈥� Kessler said about winning the award during a press conference last week. 鈥淚t was just cool to have all the people who have been around and helped me here to celebrate with me.
鈥淚 figured I was in the running but I wasn鈥檛 sure how it would work. I鈥檓 excited to win it. I feel deserving of it and it鈥檚 always fun to be recognized.鈥�
Kessler鈥檚 tremendous year kicked off when he set the national high school indoor mile record back in February with an incredible time of 3:57.66. In March, he set the Michigan record for a two-mile run with a time of 8:39.04. The time was also the fourth fastest all-time in U.S. high school history.
To cap off his high school career at Ann Arbor Skyline, Kessler won two Division I MHSAA state championships in the 800 and 1600-meter events with times of 1:54.13 and 4:16.88, respectively.
However, Kessler鈥檚 incredible dominance did not stop there, as he later qualified for the Olympic trials in the 1,500. His time of 3:34.36 to reach the trials broke the national under-20 record and would also have been an NCAA record.
Congratulations on an unbelievable race and qualifying for the Olympic Trials!!!鉁旔煍ヰ煄金焽吼焽�
— Ann Arbor Skyline Men's Track & Field (@arbor_men)
Kessler would go on to win the first heat race at the trials, but would fall short of the 1,500 final. Still, it was a season that will always go down in the history books for the standout runner.
鈥淚t was really a great season,鈥� Kessler said. 鈥淭here weren鈥檛 too many hiccups which was awesome. Everything went smooth and the way I wanted it too except maybe the last race. But it鈥檇 be hard to be hungry if everything went your way.聽
鈥淚 see a lot of really great athletes鈥� names on this trophy so it鈥檚 pretty cool to have my name next to them. I鈥檓 most proud of my running achievements, but that鈥檚 what led me to this award. I鈥檓 grateful for it.鈥�
While Kessler has always been a talented athlete, many may not have seen some of the marks he was able to reach this year coming. Although managing the COVID-19 pandemic was a difficult time for many athletes, Kessler credits it for helping him reach new levels.
鈥淥ver quarantine when everything was shut down, even if I didn鈥檛 feel like it, I showed up every day and did what I needed to do to get better at running,鈥� Kessler explained. 鈥淭hat was the foundation for this season.鈥�
Just a few weeks back, Kessler was slated to run at Northern Arizona University this fall. However, prior to the trials in late June, the Michigan native signed a professional contract with Adidas through the next two Summer Olympics. Although foregoing running at Northern Arizona to turn pro may have been a tough decision, Kessler is happy with what he will be doing.
鈥淚t was probably the hardest decision I ever had to make,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t made for a few really crappy nights trying to fall asleep where my brain was just spinning. Luckily it wasn鈥檛 a decision I had to make alone. I had my folks and a lot of people that I really trust in the running community. Once I talked to a lot of people about it, the decision became clear that it was time and I had a really good opportunity and should take advantage of it. Although I鈥檓 pretty disappointed to not be running at Northern Arizona, I鈥檓 super excited I鈥檓 able to stay with the people I鈥檝e been running with. I鈥檓 so glad I can continue those relationships.鈥澛�
Kessler will still attend Northern Arizona and also begin training there in the fall. Then it will be back to Ann Arbor in December where he will continue his training with former Michigan coach, Ron Warhurst. There are many, including Warhurst, who think someday Kessler could be one of the best runners ever in the U.S. That may come true sooner than later, but for now, Kessler is focused on what he can control in the present.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty crazy to think about,鈥� Kessler said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just focusing on the day-to-day and hopefully I鈥檒l get there at some point.鈥�
