Ingebrigtsen seals rare world double

NANJING, China (AFP) — Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen won the 1,500-meter run in Nanjing on Sunday to claim not only a first global gold in his favored distance, but also a rare world indoor track distance double.

Ingebrigtsen, who had won the 3,000m on Saturday for his first world indoor title, clocked three minutes and 38.79 seconds to emulate the double claimed by Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie in Maebashi in 1999.

‘It’s very difficult to compare yourself against history and what others are doing.’

Great Britain’s Neil Gourley took silver in 3:39.07 while American Luke Houser rounded out the podium (3:39.17).

“Of course, this is something special,” said Ingebrigtsen, before adding: “A lot of things have changed and I’m not doing this because anyone else has done it before. So that’s purely a coincidence.”

“It’s very difficult to compare yourself against history and what others are doing.”

“I’m only focusing on myself and I feel good to have done a lot of preparations, and that was always the main goal. It’s not to do with something somebody else did before.”

“I think I can do more, so I’ll try to maximize that and grab the opportunity given to me.”

Ingebrigtsen’s victory also banished some of the Norwegian’s 1,500m demons.

In his last outing at a world indoors, Ingebrigtsen finished second in the 1,500m to Ethiopian Samuel Tefera in Belgrade in 2022.

That was sandwiched between two world outdoor 1,500m silvers as the Norwegian was twice outsprinted by Britons — Jake Wightman in 2022 and Josh Kerr a year later — for victory.

Ingebrigtsen was then surprisingly beaten by Cole Hocker in the 1,500m Olympic final last year, finishing outside the medals, but bouncing back to win the 5,000m gold.

“The main goal is obviously to win both distances, but I would say so far a pretty good indoor season, getting out and succeeding with the things that I wanted to accomplish, so it’s been good,” he said.

Ingebrigtsen, as his wont, was happy to sit at the back of the nine-strong pack as American Samuel Prakel took up the running in Nanjing, splitting the pack into single file.

The Norwegian moved to the front with four laps to run, Britain’s Gourley on his shoulder and Mariano Garcia of Spain also in the running. Ingebrigtsen surged again, shouldering off Austrian veteran Raphael Pallitsch’s clumsy attempt at a pass.

Next to try their luck was Portugal’s Isaac Nader, but at the bell it was Ingebrigtsen in charge.

Gourley raced down the inside line of the far straight, but there was to be no Briton to spoil the party at the line, as there has been twice at the world outdoors.

The Norwegian kept not only his speed but also his nerve to see off his rivals, crossing the finish line with a brief look over his shoulder and a wagging index finger.