Ingebrigtsen determined to end world 1,500m title drought

BEIJING: Despite his remarkable career success, Jakob Ingebrigtsen has yet to claim a world title in the 1,500 metres. The Norwegian star is determined to change that this year, with his sights set on both the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing and the outdoor edition in Tokyo.

Arriving in China over the weekend, Ingebrigtsen is focused on securing his first 1,500m world crown at next week’s indoor competition. He will then return to Asia in September, hoping to complete the mission at Tokyo’s National Stadium, where he won Olympic gold in the event in 2021.

“That’s definitely the goal for the season,” Ingebrigtsen said on Monday. “I try to do as well as I can, try to participate as much as possible, but ultimately the 1,500 metres is my main event and my favourite event. So that’s always going to be the main focus and the main goal.”

Ingebrigtsen has come agonizingly close to the 1,500m world title on multiple occasions. He took silver at his only previous World Indoor Championships in 2022, finishing behind Ethiopia’s Samuel Tefera. In outdoor competitions, he was narrowly beaten in consecutive finals—by Jake Wightman in 2022 and Josh Kerr in 2023. At last year’s Paris Olympics, he failed to defend his 1,500m title but secured gold in the 5,000m, reinforcing his dominance over the longer distance.

Now 24, Ingebrigtsen remains confident in his ability to improve. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have visible improvement in my personal best in the last couple of years, and I’m still a big believer that I can continue that for many years in the future,” he said.

With his determination and track record, the upcoming season presents a golden opportunity for Ingebrigtsen to finally conquer the 1,500m on the world stage.(Reuters)