Brannon Kidder leads the field as the pacer with Josh Kerr just behind in todays world record mile.
Former Ohio Star Brannon Kidder Helps Pace Josh Kerr to an Historic Mile World Record in London
On one of the greatest days in middle-distance running history, a former Ohio high school star found himself at center stage. 2012 Lancaster High School graduate Brannon Kidder played a pivotal role in today's historic Mile in the London Wanda Diamond League meet, serving as the designated pacemaker as Brooks Beasts teammate Josh Kerr delivered a stunning world-record performance of 3:42.66.
While Kerr will deservedly grab the headlines for eclipsing Hicham El Guerrouj's legendary 3:43.13 mark that had stood since 1999, Kidder's contribution was instrumental in making Kerr's historic run possible.
Tasked with setting a world-record pace from the gun, Kidder led his teammate to perfection. He guided the field through the opening quarter-mile in 54.75 before bringing Kerr through 800 meters in 1:50.63, exactly on the splits needed for a record attempt. After completing his pacing duties, Kidder stepped off the track, leaving Kerr to finish the job over the final half of the race.
For Kidder, it was another memorable chapter in a professional career that has quietly made him one of the most respected middle-distance runners in the United States.
Now the longest-tenured member of the Brooks Beasts Track Club, Kidder has spent more than a decade competing against the world's best in the 800 and 1,500 meters. The former Penn State standout earned multiple All-America honors during his collegiate career before transitioning successfully to the professional ranks.
His international résumé includes a gold medal with Team USA in the 4x800-meter relay at the 2017 IAAF World Relays in the Bahamas. He also represented the United States in the 800 meters at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, advancing to the semifinal round. That same year, Kidder produced the fastest relay split as the Brooks Beasts established an indoor 4x1-mile world record at the Dr. Sander Invitational.
Long before he was helping pace world records on the Diamond League circuit, Kidder established himself as one of Ohio's all-time great high school middle-distance runners.
Brannon Kidder (#16) leads the 2011 D1 Boys 1600m in the 2011 OHSAA State Championships.
Photo Credit: M. Stonecipher
A 2012 Lancaster High School graduate, Kidder dominated the OHSAA Division I ranks from 2010 through 2012. His senior season culminated in an unforgettable triple at the 2012 OHSAA State Championships, where he captured titles in the 800 meters (1:51.09), 1600 meters (4:14.03), and anchored Lancaster's victorious 4x800-meter relay (7:44.88).
As a junior, he claimed the Division I 1600-meter state title in 4:09.32 while also leading Lancaster's 4x800 relay team to a third-place finish.
Kidder's talent extended well beyond Ohio. During his senior year, he clocked 4:03.12 in the mile at the adidas Grand Prix in New York City, the fourth-fastest high school mile in the nation in 2012 and a performance that cemented his status among the country's elite distance runners.
More than 14 years after starring for Lancaster, Kidder continues to make an impact on the sport at its highest level. This time, it wasn't by chasing a record himself, but by helping create the conditions for one of the greatest performances in track and field history.
A Look Back
Just before the 2011 OHSAA State Championships, I had the opportunity to interview Kidder for OHRunners as he was emerging as one of the nation's premier high school milers. Looking back now, it's remarkable to see how the promise he showed as a teenager has translated into a long and accomplished professional career.
Vintage Feature: Brannon Kidder: Joining the Lancaster Elite
By Mark Stonecipher - May 30, 2011
Sam Prakel is an American professional middle-distance runner who specializes in the 1500 meters, the mile, and the 3000 meters.
Here is a breakdown of his track career leading up to his professional success:
High School Career
Prakel attended Versailles High School in Ohio, where he established himself as one of the top prep runners in the country, overcoming early anxiety at state meets to collect an impressive six state titles:
Cross Country: He was a two-time Ohio Division III state champion, winning the title in both 2011 and 2012.
During his senior year, he was a Footlocker Nationals qualifier and was named the Ohio Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year. Track & Field: Prakel was a four-time state champion on the track.
He won the 3200m in 2012, the 1600m in both 2012 and 2013, and the 800m in 2013. Immediately following his senior season, he proved he could compete on a national level by finishing third in the 1,500 meters at the 2013 U.S. Junior Championships with a time of 3:46.93.
Collegiate Career
Following his stellar high school career, Prakel committed to the University of Oregon, a powerhouse for distance running.
Athletic Achievements: He finished his time at Oregon as a five-time All-American.
As a freshman, he made the NCAA 1500m final. In his senior year (2018), he captured the Pac-12 Championship title in the 1500m (3:40.20). At the NCAA level, he placed 3rd in the Mile at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships and 6th in the 1500m at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Academic Excellence: Prakel was a biochemistry major who excelled in the classroom.
He was a First-Team Academic All-American in 2016 and won the prestigious NCAA Elite 90 Award at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships for having the highest GPA (3.97) among all competitors. In 2017, he was also named the Pac-12 Men's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Prakel graduated from Oregon in 2018 and immediately signed a professional contract with Adidas to continue his running career.
Brannon Kidder leads the field as the pacer with Josh Kerr just behind in todays world record mile.
Former Ohio Star Brannon Kidder Helps Pace Josh Kerr to an Historic Mile World Record in London
On one of the greatest days in middle-distance running history, a former Ohio high school star found himself at center stage. 2012 Lancaster High School graduate Brannon Kidder played a pivotal role in today's historic Mile in the London Wanda Diamond League meet, serving as the designated pacemaker as Brooks Beasts teammate Josh Kerr delivered a stunning world-record performance of 3:42.66.