Jakob Ingebrigtsen had two straight WC silver medals at 1,500 meters, and was the reigning Olympic champion.
But the Norwegian superstar, who had a world annual best (3.26.73) that was almost two seconds better than the runner-up on the list (Timothy Cheruiyot).
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Ingebrigtsen led
And for a long time it looked like he would repeat the feat from Tokyo 2021, where he won in the Olympic record time of 3.28.32.
He took the early lead, and also got a small gap down to the chasers on the penultimate lap.
Surrounded by three
But in the race he was overtaken, not just by a runner. Nor two. Without a full three runners overtook the 23-year-old, who thus finished first in fourth place, in a time of 3:28,24.
– It is clear that I am disappointed with the result, says Ingebrigtsen to NRK, and explains the failure that he was in too good shape:
– I felt that I was the best in the field and am trying to play on my strengths and wear out the others.
– But when it doesn’t work, it’s like I’ve done it in vain and had expected a different outcome. I got too eager and maybe felt too good – and then it’s like I’m misunderstanding my own opening.
Hocker won the race
If Ingebrigtsen wasn’t going to win, most people would probably have expected it to be the previously mentioned Kenyan Cheruyot, or possibly the Briton Josh Kerr – who won the WC in Budapest last year.
But, out of basically nowhere, the American Cole Hocker appeared. Hocker, who had never run under 3.30 before, produced a brilliant run to finish in a new Olympic record time of 3.27.65, 14 hundredths ahead of Great Britain’s Josh Kerr – and a further hundredth ahead of American Yared Nuguse.
– This experience is something completely different from what I have experienced. I haven’t had enough time to digest it, but it’s absolutely amazing, Hocker tells Max.