by Larry Eder
This is the piece that RunBlogRun wrote about the European Championships 5,000 meters on day two, August 16, 2022, in Munich, Germany.
2022 Munich Diary: Jakob Ingebrigtsen defends his 5000m title
In Berlin in 2018, Jakob Ingebrigtsen won the 5,000m and the 1,500m at the European Championships. The 18-year-old was pretty impressive.
In 2019, Ingebrigtsen took 5th in the 5,000m and 4th in the 1,500m at the Doha 2019 World Championships.
The world changed for Jakob when he took the gold in the Tokyo Olympics in the 1,500 meters from Timothy Cheruiyot and Josh Kerr, who took the bronze and almost caught Cheruiyot.
This past July, Jakob Ingebrigtsen was outraced by Jake Wightman over the 1,500 meters in Eugene. Ingebrigtsen took gold in the 5,000 meters, gradually pushing the pace and taking the kick out of his competitors.
In Munich this evening, the Norwegian superstar took the same approach. Using racing savvy that is not seen in athletes of his years, Jakob was at the back of the pack at the 1,000 meters in 2:47.58 and moved up a bit at 2,000 meters, 5:26.92, and 3,000 meters in 8:16.56.
Ingebrigtsen has a style. In the 5,000 meters, Jakob has the ability to hurt for four or five laps and put the hurt on for two or three laps.
At the time of the 4,000 meters, 10:57.50, the Norwegian had run that 4th kilometer in 2:31.06.
Over the last 2 and one-half laps, Ingebrigtsen started to push up the pace and really took control just before the last lap, hitting the bell in 12:27.39.
And this is the beauty of Jakob’s racing style. Running the last kilometer in 2:23.16 and the last lap in 53.16, Ingebrigtsen had pulled away from all by Italy’s Crippa and Spain’s Ketir.
Crippa fell off with 200 meters to go as Jakob Ingebrigtsen upped the ante, trying to see what the Spaniard, Ketir, had another gear.
Coming off the turn, Mohammed Ketir tried to approach Ingebrigtsen but could not go passed him.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen held off Mohammed Ketir, 13:21.12 to 13:22.98. Yemaneberhan Crippa, held on for the bronze in 13:24.83. Andreas Algren, SWE, took 4th in 13:26.48, in a nice PB.
So, Jakob Ingebrigtsen defended his Berlin 2018 title at the 5,000 meters, and he noted his delight to the media:
“Everybody has the expectations, and you have to learn how to deal with them. I believe in myself, and I believe in the things I have done before. It was amazing here today; it was a great race to be a part of. Thanks to the audience, it is incredible. It feels great to be back and win; it is special. It brings back the memories of Berlin. I am in the next race on Thursday, so I am looking forward to it. I always have got something to prove.”
And now, for the young star, some celebration, but not too much, he has the 1,500-meter final on Thursday!
