MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - Former Midland High track star Bryce Hoppel finished second in Wednesday’s Olympic 800-meter race with a time of 1:45:24, qualifying him for the semi-finals happening Friday morning.

In 2016 Bryce won a 6A state title for the Midland High Bulldogs, now in 2024 he’s 5,188 miles away in Paris, France competing for the shot at an Olympic medal.

At noon Paris time, Midland’s very own Bryce Hoppel made his 2024 Olympic debut, and at 5 a.m. Midland time Bryce’s biggest supporters gathered together to cheer him on.

Among those supporters are people who have followed Bryce’s journey from the beginning.

“Bryce was a very humble athlete and he was super intelligent”

Support for Bryce was heard around the world.

For many the Olympic dream is just that, a dream, but Bryce Hoppel’s friends and family knew that that dream would one day be a reality.

Before Bryce races again Friday morning his former coaches and his teammate have a few pieces of advice for the Olympic athlete: