Last year he was beaten by Jake Wightman on the run in the battle for WC gold. Since then he has won every race he has taken part in and lowered his own personal record by over a second. The hunt for the WC gold in the 1500 meters in Budapest started with an attempt on Saturday. In advance, there was tension about how the new qualification rules would turn out. While in the past it has been the case that a certain number of athletes advance directly from each heat and the runners with the best times from those who are not directly qualified, this year it is the best six from each of the four heats that advance. Ingebrigtsen opened calmly as usual, before he quickly advanced forward in the field. With 600 meters to go he took the lead. – He takes absolutely no chances, said news’s commentator Jann Post. – The later it goes, the greater the probability of getting into something. I felt I was “touched” a little in the legs. Then I just kept a steady, relatively high speed. It was the best, says Ingebrigtsen to news. – Apart from the final, the first round (trial) is perhaps the race with the most excitement. We are three more men in this heat than we will be in the next two races. So the probability of something happening is high. says Ingebrigtsen. At the back of the field there were also several who went down, but Ingebrigtsen had full control and won the trial with a time of 3:33.94. In the interview with news, he says that he got the feeling that it was people behind him who fell. – It rarely goes wrong. Then it is either to lie completely behind or far ahead. I noticed early on that they were picking up decent speed. Then it calmed down a bit, but then it’s safest to lie down first. Then you have a little more to play with, says Ingebrigtsen and categorizes it as a “largely optimal” attempt. Among Ingebrigtsen’s main competitors in the battle for a WC gold over the distance is compatriot Narve Gilje Nordås. He ran in the third trial heat, with Stewart McSweyn setting the pace early. Nordås was well positioned at the start, but gradually got a little locked in and was close to falling 600 meters before the finish line. After the small scare, advanced forward and reached the finish safely in fifth place and advancement with a time of 3.34.67. For Ingebrigtsen and Nordås, a semi-final in the 1500 meters awaits on Sunday afternoon, before the final on Wednesday evening. In addition, Ingebrigtsen will also try to defend last year’s gold in the 5000 metres. There is an opening heat on Thursday evening and a final on Sunday evening. In the 5000 metres, Nordås, Henrik Ingebrigtsen and Magnus Tuv Myhre are also on the start list. Follow the broadcast here:
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