When it comes to track and field standards, the high school 1500-meter record seemed almost impossible to be smashed. Nearly 20 years ago, Alan Webb took part in the 1500 meters race and ended up holding the 3:53.43 record at the national level. No high school runner reached even closer to breaking this record in the last two decades.
But, at the Portland Track Festival, the teenager from Ann Arbor, Michigan raced to smash the record on 29th May and secured 5th position by finishing in 3:34.36. This helped Kessler qualify for the U.S Olympic Track and Field Trials and scored the 3:35.00 Olympic benchmark. The Ann Arbor Skyline senior even ran faster than the 3:34:68 record secured by Yared Nuguse previously in the same month. “I really just wanted to make the Trials. I thought 3:36 at best.” Kessler said after the historic win.
