Kessler's mile win and record earns him USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Capturing the men's mile title and bettering the world record* at the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships, Hobbs Kessler (Ann Arbor, Michigan/USATF Michigan) earned recognition as the 35th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2023.

Kessler, 20, outkicked Britain's Callum Elson and U.S. teammate Sam Prakel through the Freedom Monument Plaza in Riga, Latvia, to break the tape at 3:56.13. His time bettered the first official world road mile record of 4:01.21, which was set by Prakel in winning the USATF Championships at Des Moines in April. The holder of the American U20 record for 1500 on the track, Kessler picked up his first international title in his Team USATF debut.
 
Other top performances from last week:

• Freshman Paityn Noe of Arkansas won the women's 5K race at the Chile Pepper XC Festival in Fayetteville by 34 seconds in 16:09.4 to lead the Razorbacks to the team title.
• Chandler Gibbens of Kansas won the men's 5-mile race at Notre Dame's Joe Piane Invitational in 23:08.4.
• Harvard's Graham Blanks won the men's 8K race at the Battle in Beantown in 23:26, almost 23 seconds ahead of the runner-up, to lead his team to victory.
• Camille Herron won the women's Spartathlon ultra title in Greece, setting a course record of 22:35:30 to smash the existing record on the 153-mile route and become the first woman ever to break 24 hours.

*Subject to USATF Records Committee verification.
 
Now in its 22nd year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2023 Winners: January 17, Emily Sisson; January 24, Ednah Kurgat; January 31, Woody Kincaid; February 7, Grant Holloway; February 14, Yared Nuguse; February 21, Anna Hall; February 28, Talitha Diggs; March 7, Alicia Monson; March 14, Jasmine Moore; March 21, Keyzelle Thomas; March 28, Camille Herron; April 4, Hillary Bor; April 11, Valarie Allman; April 18, Britton Wilson; April 25, Brooke Andersen; May 2, Gabby Thomas; May 9, Connor Burns; May 16, Britton Wilson; May 23, Brooke Andersen; May 30, Ryan Crouser; June 6, KC Lightfoot; June 13, Grayson Murphy; June 20, Yared Nuguse; July 17, Gabby Thomas & Christian Miller; July 20, Ednah Kurgat; July 27, Nikki Hiltz; August 3, Quenton Lanese; August 10, Shawnti Jackson; August 17, Michelle Atherley; August 30, Ryan Crouser, Noah Lyles, Sha'Carri Richardson & Laulauga Tausaga-Collins; September 6, Yared Nuguse; September 13, Jenny Hitchings; September 20, Yared Nuguse; September 27, Weini Kelati; October 3, Hobbs Kessler.

We welcome your nominations!

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org.

Join the conversation with USATF on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #USATF.

Photo Credit: Adam Nurkiewicz