Jakob Ingebrigtsen completed a golden double by capturing the men’s 1,500-metre title on the final day of the World Indoor Athletics Championships on Sunday, a day after the Norwegian claimed the 3,000 crown.
Victory in three minutes 38.79 seconds in Nanjing, China meant Ingebrigtsen also matched the feat of Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie who won the double at the 1999 indoor worlds in Maebashi, Japan.
The 24-year-old Ingebrigtsen had warmed up for the global meeting with a similar effort at the European indoors in Apeldoorn, in the Netherlands, earlier this month.
“Of course, this is something special,” said Ingebrigtsen.
“It’s very difficult to compare yourself against history and what others are doing. I’m only focusing on myself and feel good to have done a lot of preparations, and that was the main goal.
“It’s not to do with something somebody else did before. I think I can do more, so I’ll try to maximize that and grab the opportunity given to me.”
The Olympic 5,000 champion was barely troubled after he took the lead midway and staved off Briton Neil Gourley, who claimed silver in 3:39.07, while American Luke Houser took bronze in 3:39.17.
WATCH | Ingebrigtsen sets indoor work mark in February:
Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway wins the men’s mile at the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais with a time of 3:45.14 to establish a new indoor world record. Quebec City’s Charles Philibert-Thiboutot finishes fourth.
Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay set a championship record of 3:54.86 en route to the women’s 1,500 title, ahead of compatriot Diribe Welteji, who crossed the line in 3:59.30. Briton Georgia Hunter Bell completed the podium in 3:59.84.
Norwegian wins men’s heptathlon
“It wasn’t an easy race, this was a fast time, so I’m very happy about that,” Tsegay said.
“It was my training that led to this.”
- Ingebrigtsen’s compatriot Sander Skotheim claimed the men’s heptathlon gold with a solid showing, finishing ahead of Estonian Johannes Erm and German Till Steinforth.
- American Josh Hoey won his first world indoor title in the men’s 800 in 1:44.77, while South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso won the women’s title with a world-leading 1:58.40.
- Italy’s Mattia Furlani won a fiercely contested long jump event with a leap of 8.30, bettering Jamaica’s Wayne Pinnock who managed 8.29. Australia’s Liam Adcock took bronze with 8.28 in his first indoor competition.
- New Zealand’s Tom Walsh collected his third indoor title and first in seven years in the shot put competition with a season’s best throw of 21.65m.
The United States reigned supreme in the men’s and women’s 4×400 relays to cap off a successful meeting in which they topped the medals tally with 16 — six gold, four silver and six bronze.
WATCH | Full replay coverage of Sunday’s afternoon session from China:
Watch the final session of the World Athletics Indoor Championships from Nanjing, China
Houlihan earns silver in return from ban
American runner Shelby Houlihan returned to the big stage after a much-debated four-year doping ban and grabbed a silver medal in the women’s 3,000.
The U.S. record holder at 1,500Â and former record holder in the 5,000 sat out the Paris Olympics because she tested positive after eating a burrito she claimed was tainted with a performance-enhancing drug. The 32-year-old runner said she was flooded with a range of emotions after her second-place finish Saturday.
“It’s been a long journey,” Houlihan said in an interview with letsrun.com. “I’m excited for today and now, but also kind of grieving the past a bit. It’s just been a real tough journey.”
In the lead-up to Olympic trials in 2021, Houlihan revealed she had tested positive for nandralone and claimed it came from a tainted pork burrito she’d bought from a Mexican food truck. A slew of appeals ensued, but Houlihan’s argument was ultimately rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Houlihan’s case divided the track and anti-doping world, mainly because many elements of it were similar to “no fault” cases that often result in athletes receiving little or no penalty. Houlihan, whose case was prosecuted by the international Athletics Integrity Unit, received no such leniency and was forced to spend the prime of her career on the sideline.
After her second-place finish in Nanjing, China, she reflected on the journey that led to her comeback. She said her first year out of the sport was the most difficult.
“Getting used to completely trying to create a new normal,” Houlihan said. “Running had been part of my life since I was 5, so who am I without this? I didn’t know. [I felt]Â totally crumbled and trying to rebuild myself back up.”
She said “a ton of anger” was driving her at the time, but she realized that was no way to move forward.
Houlihan said she’s hopeful her success at the worlds in China might lead to her landing a sponsor. World outdoor championships are in September, when Houlihan could shape up to be a factor in the 1,500 or 5,000.
