– I do not know if it is possible to answer that without being “cocky”, says Jakob Ingebrigtsen after the Norwegian record and victory on the dream mile during Bislett Games. The question is precisely why he now manages to stay out of trouble in all races. For a while, people almost got used to it being dramatic when the 21-year-old competed in important races, and many may remember when he was first discarded from the final in the Doha World Cup in 2019, before he got his place back. Often both the brothers and the then coach Gjert Ingebrigtsen came forward with a forefinger and asked Jakob Ingebrigtsen to run smarter. – Have you become smarter? – No. – Only better? – I’m not necessarily smart. I’m a good runner, he replies with a smile. EC-TROUBLE: During the indoor-EC in Poland, Jakob Ingebrigtsen was discarded from the EC-gold indoors for having stepped within the list, before he then got the gold back. But both Ingebrigtsen and those around him have an explanation. – It is clear that when you do not have to fight too much about the positions, it means that you have a little more to play with. A very good runner can afford to make many tactical mistakes and still win. It’s not like that when you are the very best, says Jakob Ingebrigtsen – which is the answer he also thinks is a bit superior. Three specific reasons news commentator Jann Post believes that there are mainly three things that are central to Ingebrigtsen now steering away from trouble to a greater extent than before: He is a little less stressed than before. You saw it a bit at the start of Bislett, where he steers into the first turn. People have more respect for him. You know it’s a bit of trouble to push the world’s best runner. You can’t get away with that in a way. And then he creates space because it is often fast races and is far ahead. However, Vebjørn Rodal also points to the wisdom he has gained because he has more experience. – He has taught himself how to do it. Now he not only listens to Henrik and Filip who said that he must run inside the list all the time, he thinks. – Because you do not need it when you are as good in relation to the competitors as Jakob is. Then you have to make safe choices. the fastest is always closest to the list, but there is often a high risk associated with it. He has understood that and has become a little wiser, praises Rodal. IN PROBLEMS: Jakob Ingebrigtsen was first discarded in the attempts at 5000 meters in the WC in 2019, but the appeal was upheld. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB Uncertainty about WC races But all danger is not over. Especially not when it comes to championship races. – It can be individual races that become extremely tactical in championships, if he agrees to it, otherwise he can only run a little as he does towards the end today. If he runs so fast, it will not be that type of race. We have seen this since the World Cup in 2017, says Post. This is exactly what Jakob himself fears in the World Cup in a month, but then it is also an advantage that he is now full of self-confidence. – It helps. There will always be uncertainty, because there can be unforeseen things that happen and things that can not be controlled. At the same time, I have to make sure I do what I have to and I can not relax for a second before I stand in that World Cup final, he says. – What specifically scared of that you can not control? – There is so much. And then 1500 meters is a very unpredictable exercise, a total distance where you have a lot of all sorts of weird things.
ttn-69
– I have not become smarter – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
