He ran 13:05.38 in Heusden, Belgium on Saturday evening. It is a personal record by over ten seconds and below the WC requirement of 13.07. Of other Norwegian runners, European record holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen is the only one who has run faster with 12.48.45. Nevertheless, Nordås is not completely satisfied. When a group of four ran away towards the end of the race, he did not dare to join. – I let them go, and I regret it a bit, because I could have won and run under 13 minutes, but you can say I saved until 13.05. That’s what I came for, the World Cup requirement. But it annoys me that I couldn’t hang on, he says to news. – You feel that you squandered an opportunity to run under 13? – Yes, definitely. I had it in my hand and just lifted it away. Shuffle away under 13, that annoys me. But the positive thing is that I’m not tired when I reach the finish line, says Nordås. MORE TO PICK: Gjert Ingebrigtsen sees further improvement potential at Narve Gilje Nordås. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB Gjert: – Getting a little defensive Coach Gjert Ingebrigtsen stood in the stands and observed what Nordås was describing. – I think he is very aggressive at the start, and then he starts to work on himself a bit when there are just over 1000-1200 meters left. Then he gets a little defensive. And then it seems that he calculates a bit in his head along the way, that if I just cruise in now, I will be under 13.07, Ingebrigtsen analysed. And continues: – Then something happens when there are 300 meters left that makes him change his mind and run very well. We have to try to pick from him the slightly defensive mindset that he gets. Where a 1500 meter runner should really feel at home, he becomes a little defensive. Then he should really think that now there are only 1,500 meters left, this is my home track. But he’s aware of it, so I don’t think we need to worry. That little hesitation resulted in “only” fifth place in the race, which was won by Cornelius Kemboi of Kenya in 13:00.68. But the names Nordås pass on the list of the best Norwegians of all time compensate for some lost positions: Henrik Ingebrigtsen, Sindre Buraas, Filip Ingebrigtsen, Magnus Tuv Myhre and Marius Bakken. SUPER FORM: Narve Gilje Nordås is getting better and better. Photo: NTB Miracle before the start Earlier in the season he became the second Norwegian of all time under 3.30 in the 1500 metres. Under the close supervision of Gjert Ingebrigtsen, Nordås has had an adventurous development since last year. – The form is obviously better than ever, he notes himself. But half an hour before the start on Saturday, there was still skepticism in the camp. “Terrible conditions in Belgium today. Wind and rain. I can’t imagine that it is possible to run any WC requirements tonight, but we can’t do anything about the weather anyway”, wrote Ingebrigtsen in a text message to news. Less than an hour later, a new message arrived: “The claim in the box”. – As he said, before the start there was a hell of a wind, seven or eight meters per second, says Nordås. – But when we were about to start, it was just like a miracle happened. The wind just lied. It went from seven meters per second to no wind. And as we ran, at least I didn’t notice any wind. But when we reached the finish line, it started to blow up again, he says with a smile. BIG PROGRESS: Narve Gilje Nordås has had an unusual amount to cheer about on the sports track in 2023. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB Can drop 5,000 in the WC Now he is therefore qualified for two distances during the WC in Budapest. But that does not mean that he uses the space of 5000 metres. – Not necessarily. It’s more like a backup if I don’t make the 1500m final. It’s good to have an extra opportunity, so you don’t have to run with a knife to your throat, Nordås points out. He has no doubts about which distance he is best at. – When you persevere with seven seconds in the 1500, ten seconds in the 5000 is not that much, notes the 24-year-old from Voll på Jæren. Next weekend he will test his WC form at the main distance in the Diamond League event in London. PS. Nordås was not the only Norwegian participant in the 5,000 meters in Heusden. Awet Kibrar ran in 13.15.41, which was also a new personal best. Per Svela ran in 13.27.04. IN the women’s 1500 metres, Amalie Sæten set a new personal record with 4.08.29.
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