Jakob Ingebrigtsen knocked out in world championships 1,500m heats

TOKYO – Norwegian former Olympic 1,500 metres champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen failed to advance to the world championships semi-finals on Sept 14, after trailing in eighth in his heat on the back of an injury-hit preparation.

Ingebrigtsen, beaten into silver in the last two world finals, never looked his normal confident self after struggling to overcome an Achilles injury and showed unusual signs of stress in his face as he worked his way through from the back in the last of four heats.

However, as the pack surged in the final straight of the Japan National Stadium track where he won his Olympic gold in 2021, he was unable to respond as only the first six progressed.

“It’s a first-time experience that I haven’t got to the next round,” the 24-year-old said.

“Of course, it’s very disappointing but at the same time, it is a reality check. This is an event that’s very competitive. You need to prepare your best and of course, I’m not there.”

Ingebrigtsen had spoken about his sub-optimal preparation coming into the championships but still hopes to challenge for a third successive world 5,000m title. The heats for the event are on Sept 19.

“I think I’m probably closer for the 5,000m right now,” he said. “I’ll recover and have a couple of good days until I go again and try again. Everything is a test.

“I was trying to do my best to advance to the semi-final but it was terrible. You have to start and you have to try.”

The two fastest men over 1,500m in 2025 also missed out. France’s Azeddine Habz finished seventh in the first heat while Kenyan Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech tripped in the last, though he will hope for a reinstatement by the organisers.

Britain’s Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman, winners of the last two world titles in almost identical races as they surged past Ingebrigtsen 200 metres out, both advanced.

“I am coming here as someone who’s done it before and I am coming to do it again,” said Kerr.

Cole Hocker, who slipped past Ingebrigtsen and Kerr to claim a surprise gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, went through, as did Kenya’s former champion Timothy Cheruiyot, who took silver in Tokyo four years ago.

Norway’s hopes now sit with Narve Gilje Nordas, who was the fastest qualifier in 3:35.90 as he won the first heat.

However, it was a disappointing day for promising Australian teenager Cameron Myers, who has taken down some of Ingebrigtsen’s age-group records in recent years. He found himself boxed, bumped and bruised and finished eighth in his heat.

The semi-finals will take place on Sept 15 with the final closing out the night session on Sept 17.

Meanwhile, pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis has made a habit of renewing the world record almost every time he competes and he sees the world championships in Tokyo as no exception, saying he would attempt a gravity-defying 6.30 metres in the final.

The 25-year-old vaulter’s confidence and dominance were on full display on Sept 13, when he sailed through the qualifiers with just two comfortable attempts that looked like nothing more than a warm-up routine.

“I feel like I didn’t really have to push it so hard,” the US-born Duplantis, who competes under the Swedish flag, said, after clearing 5.75m to qualify for the final on Sept 15.

“The jumps felt nice and easy. The track feels amazing, it feels super fast.”

Asked if he would attempt 6.30m – one centimetre up on his current record set in August in Budapest – he said, “That’s what I want to do. I feel like it’s possible... I feel like it’s in the cards.” REUTERS