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Sam Prakel

Sam Prakel
Personal information
Full nameSamuel Prakel
Born (1994-10-29) 29 October 1994 (age 30)
Versailles, Ohio
EducationVersailles High School
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)800 metres, 1500 metres, Mile, 3000 metres
College teamOregon Ducks
ClubAdidas
Turned pro2018[1]
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking19 (1500m)
Medal record

Samuel Prakel (born 29 October 1994) is an American middle- and long-distance runner, who competes for Adidas.[2] His personal best time in the indoor mile is 3:50.94, tied for 13th all-time.[3] He competed collegiately for the Oregon Ducks, where he was a five-time All American and won the 1500m at the 2018 Pac-12 Championships.[4]

High school career

Prakel attended Versailles High School in Ohio. During his time there he was a two-time Ohio Division III state champion in cross country winning the race in 2011 and 2012. His senior year he was a Footlocker Nationals qualifier and won Ohio Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year.

On the track, Prakel was a four-time state champion winning the 3200m in 2012, the 800m in 2013, and the 1600m in both 2012 and 2013. Immediately after his senior season he finished third in the 1,500 meters at the 2013 U.S. Junior Championships running a 3:46.93.

Collegiate career

Prakel attended the University of Oregon training alongside teammates such as Edward Cheserek, Eric Jenkins, Mac Fleet, and Cooper Teare among others. He finished his time there as a five-time All-American and the 2018 Pac-12 1,500m Champion.

Professional career

On July 31, 2018, he announced via an Instagram post he had signed a professional contract with Adidas.[5]

In March 2022 Prakel represented the United States at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia where he ran a 3:38.40 1500m, finishing 9th overall.

At the 2023 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Prakel won both the 1500m and 3000m. However, Prakel initially finished second in the 1500m to Josh Thompson, who was later disqualified for inhibiting Henry Wynne in the final 100 meters, with Prakel therefore given the title.[6]

On April 25, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa he set the world record for the road mile with a time of 4:01.21.[7]

On October 1, 2023 Prakel represented the United States at the World Road Running Championships. He won bronze in the road mile in a time of 3:56.43. During the pre-race press conference Prakel stated that he had postponed his wedding by a week in order to compete at the event.[8]

Competition record

USA Championships

Representing adidas
Year Competition Venue Position Event Time
2016 US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon SF1 6th 1500 m 3:48.55
2017 USA Championships Sacramento, California 7th 3:45.02
2018 USA Championships Des Moines, Iowa 7th 3:44.01
2019 USA Indoor Championships New York City 4th Mile 4:01.76
USA Championships Des Moines, Iowa 6th 1500 m 3:46.09
2020 USA Indoor Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 7th 3:47.84
2021 US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 9th 3:38.67
2022 USA Indoor Championships Spokane, Washington 4th 3:39.92
USA Championships Eugene, Oregon 8th 3:46.43
2023 USA Indoor Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 1st 3000 m 8:12.46
1st 1500 m 3:42.62
USA Championships Eugene, Oregon 4th 1500 m 3:35.83
2024 USA Indoor Championships Albuquerque, New Mexico 6th 3:40.04
US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon SF1 6th 3:38.50
16th 5000 m 14:17.87

Personal bests

Surface Event Time Date Venue Notes
Indoor track 1000m 2:19.87 January 12, 2019 Dempsey Indoor Not legal
One mile 3:50.94 March 3, 2019 Boston University
3000m 7:53.82 January 25, 2020 The Armory
5000m 13:15.96 December 3, 2022 Boston University
Outdoor track 800m 1:46.39 June 11, 2022 Griswold Stadium
1000m 2:18.15 July 17, 2020 Finn Rock, Oregon
1500m 3:34.92 July 15, 2022 Jack Kemp Stadium
One mile 3:54.64 August 3, 2018 Raleigh, NC
3000m 7:46.06 January 15, 2022 Seattle
One Mile Road 3:47.7 July 23, 2022 Cleveland, OH Not legal
5000m 13:41.79 December 4, 2020 San Juan Capistrano, CA

References