by Larry Eder
Hobbs Kessler signs with adidas, photo via twitter/Hobbs_Kessler
Athing Mu, photo by Craig Biacre for Texas A & M Athletics
Two of the most promising athletes in the new generation are Athing Mu and Hobbs Kessler.
Athing Mu, a genius at 400m/800m, has left Texas A & M after a sterling freshman year, to pursue a multi-year contract with NIKE. She is represented by Wesley Felix, the brother of Allyson Felix (Wesley manages Allyson in athletics).
Hobbs Kessler has signed with adidas and will be represented by Global Athletics & Marketing, whose COO is Mark Wetmore.
This piece was done by David Monti, of Race Results weekly. We use this article with permission.
KESSLER, MU TURN PRO
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2021 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved, used with permission.
EUGENE, OREGON (24-Jun) — In separate announcements yesterday, American teenage track sensations Hobbs Kessler and Athing Mu announced that they had turned pro and will represent adidas and Nike, respectively.
Kessler, 18, who rocketed to fame when he ran a 3:57.66 indoor mile on February 7, as a 17-year-old, signed with agent Mark Wetmore of Global Athletics and Marketing in Boston. On May 29, Kessler ran an astonishing national U20 1500m record of 3:34.36, a mark which is even faster than the collegiate record (3:34.68). It was that performance that made the just-graduated senior from Skyline High School in Ann Arbor, Mich., pause to think about his future.
“The 3:34 was the turning point for all of this,” he told Jeff Hollobaugh of Track & Field News. “I’m in a position now that I don’t know that I will be in later, so I’m jumping on the opportunity that I have now and riding my momentum forward.”
Kessler will continue to be coached by Ron Warhurst, who also coaches miler Nick Willis and steeplechaser Mason Ferlic. Willis is also represented by Wetmore (Ferlic uses a different agent, Dan Lilot).
Mu, 19, announced via a recent Instagram post that she intended to turn pro after a fantastic season at Texas A&M where she ran USA U20 records for 400m (49.84) and 800m (1:57.73). Yesterday, she revealed that she had signed with Nike and that agent Wes Felix would represent her. Felix, a former sprinter, is Allyson Felix’s older brother and agent.
“I’m signing a multi-year deal with NIKE that will allow me to train to represent my country and The Swoosh for multiple Olympic Games,” she posted on Instagram. “This is just the beginning.”
Mu ran in Nike kit and spikes at A&M so she will not need to change equipment. Kessler had used Nike spikes during his high school career, so running for adidas will require an equipment change.
Financial terms for both deals were not disclosed.
Both athletes were active on Day 7 of the 2021 USA Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field here. Kessler was in the first of three heats of the men’s 1500m prelims at 6:04 p.m., which he won, using a 1:50 last 800m, and a 53.5 last 400m, finishing in 3:45.63, and taking first.
Athing Mu, was in the second heat of the women’s 800m, which she won in 2:00.69.
and Mu is in the second of five heats of the 800m prelims at 7:00 p.m.
