Former KU Jayhawks runner Hoppel qualifies for world championships ... again
Former Kansas track and field middle distance runner Bryce Hoppel has qualified for the World Track and Field Championships for the fourth time.
Hoppel, who turns 28 on Sept. 5, placed third in the men’s 800 final in a time of 1:42.49 at the 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships held Sunday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Top three finishers in what USATF.com called “the strongest and deepest men’s 800 final in U.S. history,” earned a spot in the Worlds, set for Sept. 13-21 in Tokyo, Japan.
Hoppel, a Midland, Texas native who ran at KU from 2016 to 2019, competed at the World Championships in 2019, ’22 and ’23.
He is the reigning 800 meters World Indoor champion, having won gold at the 2024 World Indoor in Glasgow. He holds the American record in the outdoor 800.
On Sunday, Donavan Brazier, the 2019 world champion, won the 800 in a time of 1:42.16, the third-fastest 800 in U.S. history. Cooper Lutkenhaus placed second in 1:42.27, the world record time for an under-18 runner.
Hoppel, Brazier and Lutkenhaus will represent the U.S. at the Worlds in Tokyo — site of the 2021 Summer Olympics. Hoppel finished fifth in his 800 Olympic semifinal heat (1:44.91) and did not advance to the final at the ‘21 Games.
“Man, I’m so excited,” Hoppel told Lewis Johnson on the NBC Sports telecast as reported by the Midland Reporter-Telegram. “It’s such a blessing to again be able to represent the U.S. I’ve been through it all, and that’s one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen to have that high score. Having Donovan, it’s such a beautiful team. It’s probably one of the U.S.’s best (800 squads) ever, so it’s going to be some exciting stuff.”
Hoppel finished ahead of fourth-place finisher Josh Hoey, who crossed in fourth place (1:43.06). Former Olympian Brandon Miller finished fifth in 1:43.14.
USATF.com described the race in this fashion: “World indoor champion Josh Hoey went to the front and took the pack through the bell in a very quick 49.29, with Brandon Miller and American record holder Bryce Hoppel just behind him. Hoey still had a slim lead over Hoppel and former American record holder Donavan Brazier at 600 in 1:15.54, setting up a very speedy finish.
“Off the turn, Brazier took over the lead and high school phenom Cooper Lutkenhaus was charging hard on the outside. Brazier held off the precocious 16-year-old Texan to win in a meet record 1:42.16, with Lutkenhaus shattering the world U18 best and the American U20 record with a stunning 1:42.27, fueled by a 12.48 final 100. Hoppel grabbed the bronze in 1:42.49, relegating Hoey to fourth in 1:43.04.”
According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, Hoppel’s third-place time on Sunday was the seventh-fastest 800 in American history. The two-time Olympian’s world record time in the 800 stands at 1:41.67. His best finish at the World Outdoor is fourth place in 2019 in Doha, Qatar.
