- The Michtrack Newsletter
- Posts
- #39 World Indoors Medal For Kessler!
#39 World Indoors Medal For Kessler!
Jeff Hollobaugh
March 08, 2024
In This Issue
Sponsored by the Ann Arbor Running Company.
Kessler Scores World Indoor Bronze!
Ann Arbor’s own Hobbs Kessler won his first international track medal in placing 3rd in the 1500 at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow last weekend. The 20-year-old, faced with figuring out how to survive an overcrowded race (officials let two additional runners into the field after protests from the heats)), opted to get out of trouble early by going to the front. The part that didn’t go according to plan was that the rest of the field, except for the Kenyan entrant, was fine with the idea of letting Kessler be the rabbit with the aim of outkicking him later. Once Kessler realized that was how the race would play out, he made the best of it, leading until the final straight, when Cole Hocker came up to pass him and New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish passed them both.
“To be honest,” said Kessler, “I wasn't very happy that there were 14 of us in the race. That's too many to have a clean final. I just wanted to stay out of trouble, on my feet, and ahead of any possible carnage. I was struggling before the race, it was a real challenge to stay mentally engaged, but I'm really proud. I made a lot of mistakes but the more experience I get, the better.”
Results: Beamish 3:36.54; Hocker 3:36.69; Kessler 3:36.72 (No. 4 time in Michigan history, worth 3:54.06 for mile). Two days earlier Kessler had placed 2nd in his heat at 3:39.07.
Also competing in Glasgow was Great Britain’s Cindy Sember, a graduate of Ann Arbor Huron and University of Michigan (she was an Ofili then). She continued to make progress towards another Olympics, tying her PR of 7.89 in the heats, running 7.95 in the semis and placing 7th in the final at 7.92. Before the semis, she told reporters, “I feel a lot stronger this year and it has made a really big difference. Every time I run, I run to win. I can only do my best, so I will be trying to do that and try to win a medal. Records can be broken but ultimately, I want to reach that final and put myself in a good position.”
A Stat That’s Got Us Worried
-5%. That’s the stat.
As stat nuts, we love that we now have something like 708 subscribers. It’s terrific that we have connected with that many coaches, athletes and fans who care about high school track in Michigan and how our alumni are doing beyond.
The initial goal of this newsletter was not to be a winning newsletter in itself, but to draw attention to our nonprofit, www.michtrack.org and help it raise the funds it will take to give this state the historical resource it needs, so that we don’t forget the athletes of yesterday, today and tomorrow. However, at this writing, fewer than 5% of our subscribers have donated, and our number of regular monthly donors has declined. Meanwhile, we definitely appreciate the many compliments the newsletter has gotten, but to be honest, we’re not sure how much time to devote to a newsletter without reader support.
Hawkins Blazes In Virginia Beach
Last weekend at the AAU Nationals in Virginia Beach, Cayla Hawkins, the Track Life University 7th-grader from East Lansing, took down the 200 state record for 7th graders twice. In the heats, her 24.75 broke a Kendall Baisden mark from 2008. Then, in winning the final, Hawkins’ 24.56 on the 200 banked track set another standard. She also won the 400 in 56.12.
Also worth noting, Magdelena Kandt of the Magsig-Pallett Throwing Club, a 7th grader, won the shot at 43-7.5. Middle school throwing records still need some research (they use lighter implements than high schoolers), but that could possibly be a 7th grade state record indoors. We know of a few better outdoor marks, but indoors is a work in progress.
College Signings
If you know of one that wasn’t previously reported here, please let us know! [email protected]. This has been a feature since issue #28. To check back issues, go here.
Jayla Graham (Detroit Renaissance) - Grand Valley
Nolan Grant (Hillsdale) - Trine
Drew Graves (Utica Ford) - Eastern Michigan
Payton Hosley (Grand Haven) - Cornerstone
Madeline McCullough (Romeo) - Madonna
Annemarie Moore (Hillsdale) - Trine
Emmalee Springer (Belding) - Aquinas
Wallace Tupper II (Traverse City West) - Liberty
Grace Wolfe (Frankfort) - Northern Michigan
Big Meet Weekend!
Aasia Laurencin
NCAA: All three divisions will have their indoor championships this weekend. D1 will be on ESPN+. Live Results Link
D1 Michigan HS alumni entries:
m400: Dubem Amene
m1M: Nick Foster
mDMR: Michigan-Trent McFarland, Dubem Amene, Miles Brown, Nick Foster
mSP: Dylan Targgart
Hept: Heath Baldwin
w60: Kaila Jackson, Grace Stark
w200: Kaila Jackson
w60H: Aasia Laurencin, Grace Stark
wPV: Jessica Mercier
New Balance Indoor Nationals (HS): Can be seen on a free livestream.
Live Results
Started Thursday (March 7-10). The folks at New Balance have committed more money than ever to attracting the top talent to Boston. What we’re hearing is that they have succeeded. I haven’t had time to pour through the entry lists much, but I see Motor City, Track Life, Ann Arbor Youth, 16Ways, Jessie Jazwinski, Maya Rollins, Brendan Herger, TJ Hansen, Quincy Isaac, Merrick Hocking, Layla Jordan, Lena Cleveland, etc.
Nike Indoor Nationals (HS): Will be streamed free via Runnerspace.
Live Results
Starts Friday (March 8-10). Quick scan turns up names such as Michigan Mustangs, Michigan Racers, Kamryn Tatum, Evan Watson, Milena Chevallier, Brooke Bowers, Rylan Finstrom, Abigail Russell, etc.
Little Things
Recommended for girls teams: Sturgis High recently hosted a workshop put on by Nancy Boyd of Ancoeur Wellness. Called the Finesse workshop: “Supporting your unique physiology to feel your best as a female athlete. These talks are targeted to normalize body changes, fueling needs, and strength to support having female athletes feel and perform their best while also working to prevent eating disorders, disordered eating and REDs in this group where the prevalence is still so high.” For information on how to set up a workshop at your place, contact [email protected]
Michtrack Results Archive: The Archive now includes 11,309 old results and clippings, thanks to the many people who have scanned old results and sent them. Check out the Archive!
Past Issues of the Michtrack Newsletter: Can be found here.
The Michigan Track & Field Hall of Fame: A work in progress. See where we are.
Michtrack Books:
XC! High School Cross Country in Michigan 1921-2020
The Fleet Feet of Spring: Michigan's High School State Championships in Track & Field (includes 2023 season)
Your Contributions Keep Michtrack Going! We have a lot of projects that we’re trying to get to to further preserve the history of TF/XC in our state. Your donations will help us make more happen, faster. Plus, they are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated! Please, join our regular monthly supporters.
Join the conversation