Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen reacts after finishing a men’s 1,500 meters heat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Britain’s Jake Wightman, second right, competes in a men’s 1,500 meters heat as Norway鈥檚 Jakob Ingebrigtsen, rear right, finishes in 8th at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen reacts after finishing a men’s 1,500 meters heat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Ingebrigtsen, a key character in 1,500-meter drama, drops out early at world championships
TOKYO (AP) 鈥 Former Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen failed to advance out of the first round of the 1,500 meters at the world championships Sunday morning in Japan, denying one of the sport’s most heated races of one of its most dramatic characters.
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen reacts after finishing a men’s 1,500 meters heat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
TOKYO (AP) 鈥 Former Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen failed to advance out of the first round of the 1,500 meters at the world championships Sunday morning in Japan, denying one of the sport’s most heated races of one of its most dramatic characters.
The Norweigan finished eighth in his heat won by 2022 world champ Jake Wightman 鈥 two spots removed from moving onto Monday’s semifinals.
After winning at 1,500 and 3,000 meters at indoor worlds in March, Ingebrigtsen was beset by an Achilles injury. This was his first race since capturing those titles. Still, this came as a surprise.
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鈥淚t’s a first-time experience,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t is, of course, very disappointing, but at the same time a reality check of how bad it is. The 15 is an event that’s very competitive and you need to prepare your best and unfortunately, I’m not there.鈥
He said he felt 鈥渃loser,” fitness-wise, to being ready for the 5,000, where he is the reigning world and Olympic champion. Prelims for that race start next Friday.
For all his success at 5,000 meters, it is the 1,500 that is considered the marquee non-sprinting race, and Ingebrigtsen has been part of a years-long drama involving himself, Wightman (who beat Ingebrigtsen in 2022), Josh Kerr (who beat him in 2023) and last year’s Olympic champion, Cole Hocker of the United States.
Ingebrigtsen won the Olympic title at this distance in 2020. Just last year, he posted the fourth-best time in the history of the event. But after Kerr beat him at worlds two years ago, they started to bicker.
Kerr suggested that Ingebrigtsen’s success came only in races that allow pacesetters 鈥 runners who set a fast pace ahead of the pack, then drop back 鈥 the likes of which are not allowed in major championships.
Ingebrigtsen took umbrage and said 鈥渨hen the pacemakers drop out, I鈥檓 the pacemaker.鈥 At last year’s Olympics, Ingebrigtsen got out to the early lead, as usual, but it was to win the surprise gold medal, while the Norweigan finished fourth.
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In the leadup to worlds this year, he said 鈥渋f I’m on the start line with a bib on my chest and spikes on my feet, I鈥檓 going to do what I鈥檝e always done, and have obviously the same approach that I鈥檝e always had.鈥
He spent most of Sunday’s race, uncharacteristically, near the back. On the last lap, he moved inside and briefly worked his way into sixth place. But there was no closing kick.
鈥淣o and yes,鈥 Ingebrigtsen said when asked if he was injury free for the race. 鈥淢y Achilles, I didn’t not feel it in this race. But what does that matter?鈥
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