Despite finishing in another dreaded fourth place, Midland native Bryce Hoppel is continuing his hot streak in the men’s 800m.
On Thursday in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Diamond League, a professional track and field circuit, held its first meet after the Paris Olympics. Hoppel, after breaking the American record in the men’s 800m in the Paris Olympic final, finished just off the medal stand in a heartbreaking fourth place .
In what was rumored to be a world record attempt in the 800m at Thursday’s meet, reigning Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi scared David Rudisha’s world record of 1:40:91, running a 1:41.11 for the win. Hoppel ended up in fourth place, running 1:42.63, his second-fastest time ever, and fourth-fastest time in American history for the 800m.
Texas A&M’s Fred Kerley followed up his bronze medal performance in the men’s 100m at the Paris Olympics with a season’s best of 19.86 seconds in the men’s 200m for third place behind fellow American Erriyon Knighton and reigning Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana.
The next chance to see Texan track and field athletes in action will be this Sunday at the Poland Diamond League and next Friday, Aug. 30 at the Rome Diamond League.
Find more Olympics coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.