THE STAGE WAS SET for something special after a couple of very fast semis. Josh Hoey led ’21 winner Clayton Murphy across the line 1:45.73–1:45.76 in semi I, Hobbs Kessler, in semi II, let it be known he was a racer to be reckoned with. He and Brandon Miller set personal bests (1:43.71, 1:43.73), towing Abraham Alvarado (1:44.44) and Georgetown’s Tinoda Matsatsa (1:45.12) to PRs, as well.
Tokyo Olympian Bryce Hoppel was no slouch either, taking semi III in 1:44.01, with Jonah Koech (1:44.47 PR) and Virginia’s NCAA champion Shane Cohen (1:44.92 PR) also making the final.
At the gun in the final, Miller was quickest coming off the out of the stagger, but Hoppel accelerated a bit more down the backstraight and reached 200 in 24.08, just ahead of Miller, Koech and Hoey. Kessler played it conservatively, staying out of trouble back in 8th.
At 300, Hoppel still led Miller, but Kessler decided it was time to move. He charged to the front and closed up behind Hoppel at 400 (51.20–51.26), followed by Alvarado, Miller, Matsatsa, Koech, Hoey, Murphy and Cohen (52.06).
At 500, all were still in contention, but it was Miller’s turn to accelerate, as he challenged Hoppel for the lead. Hoppel had the advantage at 600 (1:17.29) and began his final push with Miller, Kessler and Hoey in hot pursuit.
At 700, with Miller by his shoulder, Hoppel found another gear and poured it on. In a few strides Hoppel’s lead expanded to 5m and was growing. Kessler was also on the go, as he sped by a tightening Miller, with Hoey trying his best to grab the elusive third spot.
Hoppel closed in 51.57 to set an MR with his PR 1:42.77. The time bettered Johnny Gray’s 1:42.80 from ’96 and made the Kansas alum the No. 3 all-time U.S. performer behind Donavan Brazier and Gray.
Kessler (1:43.64) became the first American since Rick Wohlhuter in ’76 to qualify for the Games in both the 800 and 1500. Miller finished not far behind in 1:43.97 and Hoey took 4th in 1:44.12.
For Hoppel, he admitted his pre-race preparation was vital, saying, “It was hard to sleep last night. I was trying to do everything perfect to a T. We’ve been here before, we’ve made the Olympic team before. I was following a strict routine and we got it done. I’ve been preparing all year, it’s the culmination of all that training and hard work.”
Hoppel confessed that having training mate Kessler in the race was also a challenge, saying, “It’s so fun; it’s incredible. He was chasing after me, so I had to run a little bit faster.”
A confident Kessler knew he could make the team, saying, “Coming around the bend, just trying to get my legs moving fast, go as hard as I could. I knew I was in position to be on the team, so I tried not let anyone pass me. But I was viewing it as another round to get to the Olympics, so, did that, super proud, super proud of Bryce, I love Brandon, he always been super great to me.”
To put a cherry on top of his week and his 800/1500 exploits, Kessler proclaimed, “I’m pretty proud, it’s exciting. I really wanted to show my robustness as a runner, and I think that did it.”
Miller summed up the feelings of all when he stated, “1:43 to make the team is a testament to U.S. middle distance running right now and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
MEN’S 800 RESULTS
FINAL (June 30)
1. Bryce Hoppel (adidas) 1:42.77 (AL) (3, 5 A) (MR)
(24.08, 27.12 [51.20], 26.09 [1:17.29], 25.48) (51.20/51.57) (12.58);
2. Hobbs Kessler (adidas) 1:43.64 PR
(24.92, 26.34 [51.26], 26.41 [1:17.67], 25.97) (51.26/52.38) (13.45);
3. Brandon Miller (BrkB) 1:43.97
(24.13, 27.35 [51.48], 25.86 [1:17.34], 26.63) (51.48/52.49) (13.65);
4. Josh Hoey (adidas) 1:44.12 PR
(24.22, 27.37 [51.59], 26.22 [1:17.81], 26.31) (51.59/52.53) (13.28);
5. Jonah Koech (UArm) 1:44.32 PR
(24.20, 27.36 [51.56], 26.59 [1:18.15], 26.17) (51.56/52.76) (12.80);
6. Shane Cohen (Va) 1:44.65 PR
(25.49, 26.57 [52.06], 26.94 [1:19.00], 25.65) (52.06/52.59) (12.36);
7. Clayton Murphy (Nike) 1:44.80
(24.29, 27.49 [51.78], 26.23 [1:18.01], 26.79) (51.78/53.02) (13.49);
8. Abraham Alvarado (unat) 1:44.90
(24.40, 26.92 [51.32], 26.64 [1:17.96], 26.94) (51.32/53.58);
9. Tinoda Matsatsa (Gtn) 1:45.70
(24.44, 27.09 [51.53], 26.43 [1:17.96], 27.74) (51.53/54.17).
HEATS (June 27)
I–1. Hoppel 1:46.83; 2. Kessler 1:46.85; 3. Wes Ferguson (NbK) 1:47.08; 4. Darius Kipyego (IaSt) 1:47.18; 5. Charles Jones (UArm) 1:47.31; 6. Cass Elliott (UArmMRB) 1:47.41; 7. Robert Downs (UArm) 1:47.42; 8. Christian Jackson (VaT) 1:47.47; 9. Sebastian Fernandez (BYU) 1:54.17.
II–1. Sam Whitmarsh (TxAM) 1:46.13; 2. Isaiah Harris (BrkB) 1:46.14; 3. Camden Marshall (In) 1:46.33; 4. Brannon Kidder (BrkB) 1:46.48; 5. Sam Ellis (On) 1:46.65; 6. Darius Smallwood (PennSt) 1:46.68; 7. Bobby Poynter (TS) 1:46.95; 8. Vincent Crisp (UArmMRB) 1:47.12; 9. Luke Griner (Army) 1:47.74.
III–1. Murphy 1:47.05; 2. Miller 1:47.10; 3. Hoey 1:47.23; 4. Koech 1:47.26; 5. Eric Holt (PumaEmpE) 1:47.28; 6. Zephaniah Carico-McLennan (Samf) 1:48.39; 7. Luciano Fiore (AtTC) 1:48.40; 8. Tim McInerney (Gtn) 1:48.84; 9. Will Cuthbertson (Butler) 1:49.32.
IV–1. Matsatsa 1:46.73; 2. Alvarado 1:46.76; 3. Cohen 1:46.83; 4. Isaiah Jewett (Nike) 1:46.84; 5. Nick Plant (VaT) 1:46.88; 6. Matt Wisner (unat) 1:46.95; 7. Benjamin Allen (EmpE) 1:47.29; 8. Sean Dolan (AtTC) 1:48.42.
SEMIS (June 28)
I–1. Hoey 1:45.73; 2. Murphy 1:45.76; 3. Harris 1:46.21; 4. Jewett 1:46.33; 5. Ferguson 1:47.20; 6. Elliott 1:47.70; 7. Smallwood 1:48.82; 8. Plant 1:49.13; 9. Carico-McLennan 1:51.85.
II–1. Kessler 1:43.71 PR; 2. Miller 1:43.73 PR; 3. Alvarado 1:44.44 PR; 4. Matsatsa 1:45.12 PR; 5. Kipyego 1:45.40 PR; 6. Whitmarsh 1:45.74; 7. Jones 1:45.99 PR; 8. Allen 1:46.46; 9. Poynter 1:48.41.
III–1. Hoppel 1:44.01; 2. Koech 1:44.47 PR; 3. Cohen 1:44.92 PR; 4. Kidder 1:45.81; 5. Wisner 1:46.09 PR; 6. Crisp 1:47.17; 7. Marshall 1:48.95; 8. Ellis 1:51.04.
