CHORZÓW, POLAND, August 25 — Daniel Komen’s 3000 World Record of 7:20.67 had stood for 28 years, rightfully considered the toughest distance record on the books. Jakob Ingebrigtsen, fresh off his 5000 gold in Paris, smashed it in a mind-boggling effort in the heat (86F/30C) of Śląski Stadium, hitting 7:17.55 to lop 3.12 off the WR.
Perhaps the writing had been on the wall. “Everything is lined up for something big,” he had told a press conference the day before the Skolimowska Memorial. The rabbits, Belgian Pieter Sisk and American Vincent Ciattei, had been charged with taking him through the first two kilometers in 4:55, a clip that seemed aimed at a time in the low 7:20s. At the very least, Ingebrigtsen’s European Record of 7:23.63 from last summer would be under attack.
The race got off perfectly, and after a first half-lap in 29.4, the pacers led the Norwegian through four steady laps of 59.1, 58.6, 58.9 and 59.2. He passed halfway in 3:41.2 and 1600 in 3:56.0, compared to Komen’s 3:38.4/3:53.6. Approaching 2K, Ciattei went wide and Ingebrigtsen passed the post in 4:55.21 (Komen 4:53.7). With 800 left he started driving hard, only Ethiopians Berihu Aregawi and Yomif Kejelcha in hailing range. His penultimate lap took just 57.46, putting him a half-second behind Komen’s record pace. He would need a 58.59 to tie the mark.
No worries. Ingebrigtsen’s powerful stride never faltered and he strode ahead of the wavelights, glancing back at them once in mustering an impressive 55.47 finish. Seeing the 7:17.55 on the board, he gaped in astonishment. He now holds WRs at 2000, 3000 and (unofficially) at 2 miles.
“I was hoping to challenge the World Record here, but based on my training, I can never predict exactly what kind of time I am capable of,” he admitted. “I would not have imagined I could run 7:17, though. At the beginning the pace felt really fast, but then I started to feel my way into the race and found a good rhythm. 3000 is a tough distance: after 4-5 laps you feel the lactic acid, but you need to get going. The conditions were difficult with the heat today.”
He added, “Now I want to challenge World Records at all distances, but it is one step at a time.”
Behind him, Aregawi impressively finished in 7:21.38 for No. 3 all-time, and Kejelcha ran 3rd in 7:28.44. Double Paris bronze medalist Grant Fisher had been in the mix only for a lap-plus before fading to last. “A third of the way through that race, man, my legs just fell apart,” he said.
Ingebrigtsen’s WR wasn’t the only one of the afternoon, though it was certainly more unexpected than Mondo Duplantis’s tenth flight over a record bar. In one of the most impressive vault competitions ever, an unprecedented three men topped 6m (19-8¼). While Duplantis had a clean record through that height, Sam Kendricks cleared on his second attempt for his highest jump in four years. Then Emmanouíl Karalís made it on his third attempt for a Greek Record. That was enough for him; he retired to watch Kendricks take three misses at a would-be AR of 19-11¼ (6.08).
Mondo, feeling ever so confident, passed 6.08 and when Kendricks was done, had the bar moved to 6.26 (20-6½). He bailed on his first attempt, but on his second, though he brushed the bar with his legs and torso and left it wiggling, he knew when he landed that it would stay put. Once again, he celebrated flying higher than any person ever in the sport.
“The conditions today were perfect,” he said. “Everything just came together to allow me to do this. I know a lot of people came here to see me jump, so I wanted to put in a good showing for them. This year I focused on the Olympics, the record just came naturally because I was in good shape. So I am not surprised with the record today, but I am thankful. It is just about being in good shape and believing you can do it.”
Olympic champ Soufiane El Bakkali kept his 3-year unbeaten record in the steeple intact, but just barely. After a 5:24.78 first 2K for the Moroccan, Kenyan Amos Serem — just 14th in Paris — tried to steal the race. El Bakkali caught him at the final waterjump and had to outsprint him off the last barrier. Serem seemingly gave up on winning, but charged again to hold off fast-finishing Samuel Firewu of Ethiopia, the Paris 6th-placer. They sprinted to the finish and in the process nearly caught El Bakkali, who had eased up before the line.
It was only sheer luck that gave El Bakkali the win in 8:04.29. “I am so tired but I am glad for this result,” he said. Serem got the same time and Firewu was just 0.05 back in 8:04.34. No luck went the way of American Kenneth Rooks. The Olympic silver medalist fell hard on the fourth lap and got up slowly, clutching his arm. He went on to finish 16th in 8:35.19 before being taken to the hospital for x-rays.
A boffo 800 field lined up featuring the top 6 in the Olympic final. Many figured the race as an attempt at David Rudisha’s WR after Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s 1:41.11 in Lausanne. However, it was world champ Marco Arop who dominated after the rabbit passed halfway in 49.39. The tall Canadian built a solid lead on the backstretch and no one was able to challenge him on the home straight as he finished in 1:41.86. Wanyonyi salvaged 2nd in 1:43.23, ahead of Bryce Hoppel’s 1:43.32.
“I’m taking it race-by-race,” said Arop, “trying to have fun.”
The 200 featured 3 of the top 4 from Paris, and the first half belonged to Kenny Bednarek in lane 6. But on the straight it was Alexander Ogando who came past the American before both bowed to the surge of Letsile Tebogo before the finish. The Botswanan hit a meet record 19.83, with Ogando at a PR 19.86 and Bednarek (20.00) and Erriyon Knighton (20.07) next. “My momentum was bad-bad,” said an unhappy Tebogo. “That is something I have to work on. At the finish I did not even think I had won the race.”
In the shot, a jetlagged Ryan Crouser fell to rival Joe Kovacs for the first time this year. The first three rounds belonged to Kovacs, who led at 72-4½ (22.06) with Crouser and Italian Leonardo Fabbri tied at 70-1¾ (21.38). In round 4, Fabbri improved to 72-3½ (22.03). Then Crouser briefly took the lead in round 5 with a toss of 72-7 (22.12). Kovacs responded with a 72-7¾ (22.14) and celebrated the win after nobody improved on the final throw.
The chance for a great battle was lost in the high jump when Olympic champion Hamish Kerr could clear just 7-1¾ (2.18). Four men remained at 7-7 (2.31), and only Gianmarco Tamberi managed to clear the winning height.
The non-DL events stood out for their quality. In the 110H, Grant Holloway narrowly avenged his Lausanne loss to Rasheed Broadbell by edging the Jamaican at the line, 13.04–13.05. “I had a way better race here than at Lausanne,” said the winner. “I got some feedback and I knew what I had to work on.”
Fred Kerley tied the MR in the 100 with his 9.87, edging Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala (9.88) and Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake (9.89) with a 1.9 breeze.
Karsten Warholm broke the MR in the 400H with his 46.95, finishing well ahead of France’s Clement Ducos (47.42 PR) and Abderrahmane Samba (47.69).
Olympic hammer champ Ethan Katzberg of Canada took the hammer with his 262-6 (80.03) over bronze medalist Mykhaylo Kokhan (261-11/79.85) and ’21 Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki of Poland (249-6/76.05).
CHORZÓW DL MEN’S RESULTS
Non-DL 100(1.9): 1. Fred Kerley (US) 9.87; 2. Ferdinand Omanyala (Ken) 9.88; 3. Ackeem Blake (Jam) 9.89 =PR; 4. Lamont Marcell Jacobs (Ita) 9.93; 5. Jeremiah Azu (GB) 10.05; 6. Pjai Austin (US) 10.06; 7. Rohan Watson (Jam) 10.18.
200(0.6): 1. Letsile Tebogo (Bot) 19.83; 2. Alexander Ogando (DR) 19.86 NR; 3. Kenny Bednarek (US) 20.00; 4. Erriyon Knighton (US) 20.07; 5. Kyree King (US) 20.27; 6. Joe Fahnbulleh (Lbr) 20.39; 7. Shaun Maswanganyi (SA) 20.55.
800: 1. Marco Arop (Can) 1:41.86 (24.3, 25.4 [49.7], 25.9 [1:15.6], 26.3) (49.7/52.2) (13.4); 2. Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Ken) 1:43.23; 3. Bryce Hoppel (US) 1:43.32; 4. Eliott Crestan (Bel) 1:43.48; 5. Wycliffe Kinyamal (Ken) 1:43.54; 6. Gabriel Tual (Fra) 1:43.73; 7. Max Burgin (GB) 1:43.73; 8. Hobbs Kessler (US) 1:43.97; 9. Andreas Kramer (Swe) 1:44.32; 10. Aaron Cheminingwa (Ken) 1:44.60; 11. Mohamed Attaoui (Spa) 1:44.96;… rabbit—Patryk Sieradzki (Pol) (49.39).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 11-12)
3000: 1. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 7:17.55 WR (old WR 7:20.67 Daniel Komen [Ken] ’96) (4:55.21 WL) (59.6, 58.6 [1:58.2], 58.9 [2:57.1], 58.9 [3:56.0], 59.3 [4:55.3], 58.1 [5:53.4], 57.1 [6:50.5], 27.1) (13.4, 27.1, 55.4, 2:22.2);
2. Berihu Aregawi (Eth) 7:21.28 NR (3, 3 W) (14.9, 29.3, 57.8, 2:26.0);
3. Yomif Kejelcha (Eth) 7:28.44; 4. Telahun Haile (Eth) 7:30.97; 5. Ronald Kwemoi (Ken) 7:31.57; 6. Moh Ahmed (Can) 7:31.96 NR; 7. Selemon Barega (Eth) 7:32.49; 8. Adrian Wildschutt (SA) 7:32.99 NR;… 14. Sean McGorty (US) 7:42.15; 15. Grant Fisher (US) 7:49.79;… rabbits—Pieter Sisk (Bel) (59.1, 58.6 [1:57.7], 58.9 [2:56.6], 59.2 [3:55.7]), Vincent Ciattei (US).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 1–2, 10–11)
St: 1. Soufiane El Bakkali (Mor) 8:04.29 (5:24.78); 2. Amos Serem (Ken) 8:04.29; 3. Samuel Firewu (Eth) 8:04.34 PR; 4. Abraham Kibiwot (Ken) 8:08.21; 5. Daniel Arce (Spa) 8:08.45 PR; 6. Mohamed Amine Jihnaoui (Tun) 8:14.15; 7. Ahmed Jaziri (Tun) 8:14.79; 8. Samuel Deguna (Eth) 8:16.64; 9. Karl Bebendorf (Ger) 8:17.52; 10. Djilali Bedrani (Fra) 8:19.10;… 16. Kenneth Rooks (US) 8:35.19 (fell); 17. Matthew Wilkinson (US) 8:40.35.
Non-DL 110H(1.1): 1. Grant Holloway (US) 13.04; 2. Rasheed Broadbell (Jam) 13.05; 3. Daniel Roberts (US) 13.24; 4. Cordell Tinch (US) 13.29; 5. Orlando Bennett (Jam) 13.35; 6. Sasha Zhoya (Fra) 13.40; 7. Jakub Szymański (Pol) 13.41; 8. Lorenzo Ndele Simonelli (Ita) 13.48.
Non-DL 400H: 1. Karsten Warholm (Nor) 46.95; 2. Clement Ducos (Fra) 47.42 PR; 3. Abderrahmane Samba (Qat) 47.69; 4. Roshawn Clarke (Jam) 47.74; 5. Rasmus Mägi (Est) 47.97; 6. Matheus Lima (Bra) 48.12 PR; 7. Berke Akçam (Tur) 48.58; 8. Vít Müller (CzR) 49.20.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Gianmarco Tamberi (Ita) 7-7 (2.31); 2. Romaine Beckford (Jam) 7-6 (2.29) PR; 3. Oleh Doroshchuk (Ukr) 7-6; 4. Sang-Hyeok Woo (SK) 7-6; 5. Erik Portillo (Mex) 7-3¼ (2.22); 6. Brian Raats (SA) 7-3¼; 7. tie, Tihomir Ivanov (Bul) & Stefano Sottile (Ita) 7-3¼; 9. Hamish Kerr (NZ) 7-1¾ (2.18).
PV: 1. Mondo Duplantis (Swe) 20-6½ (6.26) WR (old WR 20-6/6.25 Duplantis ‘24) (18-5¼, 19-5, 19-8¼, 20-6½ [2]) (5.62, 5.92, 6.00, 6.26 [2]);
2. Sam Kendricks (US) 19-8¼ (6.00); 3. Emmanouíl Karalís (Gre) 19-8¼ (6.00) NR; 4. KC Lightfoot (US) 19-5 (5.92); 5. EJ Obiena (Phi) 19-1 (5.82); 6. Chris Nilsen (US) 18-9¼ (5.72); 7. Kurtis Marschall (Aus) 18-9¼; 8. tie, Thibaut Collet (Fra) & Piotr Lisek (Pol) 18-9¼; 10. Renaud Lavillenie (Fra) 18-5¼ (5.62).
(best-ever mark-for-place: 3)
SP: 1. Joe Kovacs (US) 72-7¾ (22.14) (70-7, 72-4½, f, 70-8, 72-7¾, 71-10¼) (21.51, 22.06, f, 21.54, 22.14, 21.90); 2. Ryan Crouser (US) 72-7 (22.12) (f, 70-1¾, f, 71-4, 72-7, 72-5¼) (f, 21.38, f, 21.74, 22.12, 22.08); 3. Leonardo Fabbri (Ita) 72-3½ (22.03) (70-1¾, f, f, 72-3½, 71-0, f) (21.38, f, f, 22.03, 21.64, f);
4. Payton Otterdahl (US) 68-8¾ (20.95); 5. Chuk Enekwechi (Ngr) 68-8 (20.93); 6. Marcus Thomsen (Nor) 68-7 (20.90); 7. Jacko Gill (NZ) 68-6½ (20.89); 8. Rajindra Campbell (Jam) 68-2¼ (20.78); 9. Roger Steen (US) 67-2 (20.47); 10. Jordan Geist (US) 67-1¼ (20.45); 11. Konrad Bukowiecki (Pol) 65-2¾ (19.88);… 3f—Michał Haratyk (Pol).
Non-DL HT: 1. Ethan Katzberg (Can) 262-6 (80.03); 2. Mykhaylo Kokhan (Ukr) 261-11 (79.85); 3. Wojciech Nowicki (Pol) 249-6 (76.05); 4. Bence Halász (Hun) 249-6 (76.05); 5. Paweł Fajdek (Pol) 244-6 (74.53).
