Håvard Bentdal Ingvaldsen has performed beyond all expectations in his WC debut and before Thursday’s final there was a very open final in the 400 metres. – Everyone who is in this final can win a medal with a super race, said news’s commentator Jann Post before the start. Ingvaldsen was relegated to lane three, with world record holder Wayde van Niekerk inside him. The 20-year-old was unable to keep up with the high opening pace and was out of the medal race in the race. On the run he had good speed and got past Van Niekerk. After Kirani James was disqualified, he eventually finished sixth with a time of 45.08. The victory went to Antonio Watson with a time of 44.22. – Ingvaldsen’s mind was a bit empty, says Post after the finish. Rodal: – A new star Kirani James took WC gold over the distance in 2011, Olympic gold the following year. Later there have been two more Olympic medals and two WC medals. He says that he had never heard of Ingvaldsen before the WC. – Are you impressed? – There are always new athletes coming up. He’s next, says James. IMPRESSED: Kirani James. Photo: SARAH MEYSSONNIER / Reuters – It was a perfectly fine final I felt. That’s what I had to offer today. I could perhaps open a bit harder, but I didn’t want to go with a bang like in the semis, says Ingvaldsen himself to news. 45.08 is Ingvaldsen’s fifth fastest run in his career, after he previously ran 44.39 and 44.70 in the WC. – Håvard should be proud of his effort in his first senior WC. It has been absolutely brilliant. He is a fresh, new star in the 400-metre sky. He has the future ahead of him to that extent, says expert commentator Vebjørn Rodal. EVEN FINALS: Antonio Watson, second from left, took WC gold. Ingvaldsen on the far right. Photo: Petr David Josek / AP Post: – The 20-year-old sees no limits – He has run three very good races here. Of course, it would have been ideal to perhaps do it in the opposite order, but that comes with the routine. He came here and was better than he thought. He has shocked himself. Gained experience running three rounds, which is worth its weight in gold before the upcoming Olympics and EC. And the motivation he brings with him means a lot, says Post. – I see no limits for the 20-year-old, says the news commentator. – What are you taking home to Moelv, Ingvaldsen? – A lot of experience and a championship that has exceeded all expectations, he says. – I’ll have to train when I get home now. I guess I have a couple of competitions left and then it will be 43 next year, he says with a grin. He reveals that he already envisions a goal of a medal in next year’s EC. – Now I’ve really had to test myself with both trials, semis and finals. I have had to prepare mentally and both physically and mentally. I feel I am now equipped for anything really, says Ingvaldsen. Mother and trainer Mari Ann Bentdal sat in the stands: – He should open a little more quietly than in the semis, I think that was wise. I think it was a well-run race. He has had two hard races, the two best races he has done, of course he feels it on his body. But he should be delighted, she says. Adventurous season Ingvaldsen has had his big breakthrough in 2023. The 20-year-old had a personal record of 45.98 before the season, but surprised greatly when he ran in 44.86 and a Norwegian record during the Bislett Games. After winning gold in the U23 EC in July, he shocked again in his WC debut. In the attempt, he was the fastest of all with a wild run of 44.39. It was somewhat more difficult in the semi-final, but with 44.70 he went on in time and became the first Norwegian ever in a WC final of 400 metres. So it ended with a sixth place.
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