2005: Named GLIAC Runner of the Week for the second year in a row following the Midwest Collegiate in Kenosha, Wis., placing second with a time of 25:07 ... won the ROTW award for the second time after an eighth-place performance at the Paul Short Invitational 8k, running in 24:09, improving remarkably on his previous best at that race (25:34.67 in 2003) ... earned All-GLIAC First Team honors after finishing sixth at the GLIAC Championship on Oct. 22 ... earned all-region honors, finishing fourth at the NCAA Regionals on Nov. 5 ... named to the GLIAC All-Academic team.
2004: Named to the Academic All-District IV Men[apos]s Track/Cross Country First Team ... named GLIAC Runner of the Week after placing fifth at the Midwest Open in Kenosha, Wis. ... won the Detroit Mercy four-mile race with a time of 20:41 ... ran the 8k in a time of 25:32 ... finished in the top five in five races ... named to the GLIAC All-Academic team for the second consecutive year ... earned national academic honors from the Cross Country Coaches Association.
2003: Named to the Academic All-District IV Men[apos]s Track/Cross Country First Team ... earned First Team All-Great Lakes Region honors after placing 10th in the regional at Grand Valley (Nov. 8) ... placed fifth in the Seagull Openerin Salisbury, Md. ... ran an 8k person best time of 25:33 and placed 14th at UW-Parkside ... named to the GLIAC All-Academic team.
2002: Ran an 8k season-best time of 25:57 at the Cardinal Classic in Louisville, Ky. ... finished 24th at the GLIAC Championship ... finished 33rd with a 10k time of 33:41.9 in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship.
High School: A 2002 graduate of Ionia High school ... Earned 10 varsity letters: four each in track and soccer, and two in cross country ... High School Coaches: Chris Young-head coach, Jim Alspaugh and Brian Powell-assistant coaches ... a two-time track all-state honoree ... four-year state qualifier ... MHSAA Division 2 Cross Country All-State honoree in 2001 ... was a four-time track Mid-Michigan B conference champion in 800m, 1600m, 3200m, 4 X 800 relay ... was a two-time regional champion in 1600m, 800m, 4 X 800 relay ... High School Personal Bests: 1:57.11- 800m; 4:23.- 1600m; 9:41-3200m; 16:21- 5K cross country.
Personal: Full name--Justin Thomas Kessler ... born November 30, 1983, in Eaton Rapids, Mich. ... son of Theodore and Susan Kessler ... has three younger sisters, Kara, Lauren and Julia ... is a biological sciences major ... named to the Athletic Director[apos]s Honor Roll for Fall 2002 (4.00), Winter 2003 and Fall 2003 ... named to the Coach[apos]s Honor Roll (term gpa 3.0-3.49) for Winter 2005 and Fall 2005 ... is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Kessler[apos]s Career Statistics
| 2002 | | 2003 | | 2004 | | 2005 |
|---|
| Meet | Time | Place | Time | Place | Time | Place | Time | Place |
| Lake Placid - 4.65 miles | 25:35 | NA |
|
| Salisbury Opener - 8k | | | 26:10.14 | 5th |
| Virginia Tech - 6k | | | | | 19:53.76 | 5th | |
| Iowa - 6k | | | | | | | 18:47 | 7th |
| Detroit Mercy - 4 mile | 21:43 | 16th | 20:35 | 11th | 20:41 | 1st | 20:07 | 1st |
| Wis.-Parkside - 8k | 27:10 | 54th | 25:33 | 14th | 25:32 | 5th | 25:07 | 2nd |
|
| CC Only Nationals - 8k | | | | | 25:57.85 | 2nd | 25:49.83 | 1st |
|---|
| Louisville Classic - 8k | 25:57 | 23rd | 25:59.20 | 18th |
| Lehigh/Paul Short - 8k | 26:44 | 114th | 25:34.67 | 56th | | | 24:09 | 8th |
| Bucknell - 8k | | | | | 26:50.95 | 10th |
| Michigan Intercollegiate - 8k | 26:24 | 22nd | 26:07 | 19th | 25:51 | 3rd |
| GLIAC - 8k | 26:10.5 | 24th | 26:33.0 | 30th | 25:54.6 | 9th |
26:58.3 | 6th |
| NCAA Regional - 10k | 33:41.9 | 33rd | 32:00.8 | 10th | 32:41.19 | 10th |
31:46.0 | 4th |
| NCAA Championship - 10k | | | 32:51.1 | 49th | 33:36.3 | 42nd | 35:45.5 | 137th |
