– I have to think about it now, but I’m here for 1,500, and I can’t do that, unfortunately. Jakob Ingebrigtsen actually decided quite early on that it was a championship that was perfect to “double up” in – that is, run the two distances 1500 and 5000 metres. But he flatly rejected that he has thought about the last practice ahead of the World Cup silver, where he almost sacrificed his own effort. And then it was also a little difficult to look ahead. – I don’t think much about it now, because everything else is so little worth compared to what I didn’t get to do, he sighs in the press zone under the stands at Hayward Field. – But I think it’s so embarrassing to do it as badly as I do it today, that it’s certainly something you can use as motivation, says Ingebrigtsen. FIRST WC MEDAL: Jakob Ingebrigtsen on the podium with the silver medal, together with world champion Jake Wightman and Spanish Mohamed Katir. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB – Not many are tough enough And that can come in handy. But two days earlier, the feeling was a little different when news spoke to him about the 5,000-metre race, where the test takes place on Friday night Norwegian time, and the final on Sunday. This means that he will run five races in just nine days. – Perhaps there aren’t that many people who are tough enough and proud enough of themselves to try. It is primarily because it is a difficult double to carry out. And often the timetable is not set up for such a doubling. – What qualities do you have to manage it? – Some will consider you stupid for trying, but I have done it before and I know I could take two medals then. If it goes a little better this time, it could be good. Ingebrigtsen himself already has a “double gold” in his collection, from the European Championships in 2018, but when he tried in Doha three years ago, only with a fifth and fourth place. And winning gold at the two distances is also demonstrably difficult, because only three men have managed it in the World Cup and Olympics in the past: Finnish Paavo Nurmi in the 1924 Olympics, Hicham El Guerrouj from Morocco in the 2004 Olympics and Bernhard Lagat from the USA – the only one in connection with the World Cup, in 2007. Why does it happen so rarely, news asked Jakob Ingebrigtsen. – That is a semi-good question. It is perhaps because it is difficult to win both. Most of them only compete at one distance, and thus they are better prepared, as they run fewer races, replies the 21-year-old. NEW OPPORTUNITY: Jakob Ingebrigtsen gets another chance to secure a WC gold in Eugene. Photo: Hanne Skjellum / news Feeling better at 5000 Before the 1500 metres, he didn’t know that the 5000 meters would be any tougher. – Not necessarily, no. – Why not? – 5000 is easier to take care of. Because it makes slightly less demands on tactics and less arms and legs than on 1500, which is the more unpredictable exercise of the two. One has to have more luck and more of the day and do more right to be successful in 1500 metres. This again places higher demands on the physical capacity, which is difficult to do anything about. There will also be a championship meeting with the Olympic winners of both 1,500 meters (Ingebrigtsen), 5,000 meters (Joshua Cheptegei) and 10,000 meters (Selemon Barega). DUEL? Selemon Barega took silver in the 5,000 meters at the Doha WC and gold in the 10,000 meters in Tokyo. Photo: Petr David Josek / AP – It will be exciting. I’ve seen what people think, but basically I’m better at 5000 than at 1500, but at the same time it’s fun that when you first have to compete for the most prestigious title, it’s fun that the best are there, states Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Former teammate Narve Gilje Nordås, who is also competing in the 5,000-meter trial on Thursday, believes that Ingebrigtsen is the favorite in a final. – He is so extremely well-trained. During the winter, he builds mass, threshold and endurance and he is certainly one of the greatest talents endurance sports has seen in history. It is an advantage, because he tolerates many runs. There is nothing that bites him, says Nordås. The 5,000 meter trial with Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Narve Gilje Nordås takes place on the night of Friday at 03.10 Norwegian time, and will be shown on NRK1.
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– Not so many who are tough enough – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
