Former University of Kansas track star Bryce Hoppel now owns the second fastest indoor 800-meter time in the history of United States track and field.
Running Sunday at the second American Track League in Fayetteville, Ark., Hoppel ran a 1:44.37 in the 800 to set the world lead mark in 2021 and claim the second fastest time in U.S. history.
According to a news release from KU, only six men in world indoor history have run 800 meters faster than Hoppel’s time on Sunday afternoon. Hoppel now trails only Donovan Brazier for the fastest time ever run by an American indoors.
Starting in lane three, Hoppel positioned himself in third place through two laps and then passed Eric Sowinski on the third lap. Once the race pacer stepped off the track at the start of the fourth lap, it was just Hoppel and the open track.
Entering the final lap at 1:18.1, Hoppel accelerated on the backstretch and lengthened his lead in the final 100 meters of his personal best time.
While at Kansas, Hoppel won four Big 12 titles, including a sweep of the 800 meter title both indoors and outdoors in 2019. In addition, Hoppel was a five-time All-American and two-time national champion, while going down as the KU indoor school record holder in the 800 meters and owner of the second-fastest 800 meter outdoor mark in school history.
Since turning pro with Adidas, Hoppel has placed fourth at the 2019 IAAF World Indoor Championship in Doha, Qatar, won the 2020 USA Indoor Championship and has run the No. 2 time in American indoor history.
