LIÉVIN, FRANCE, February 17 — Were there any doubt Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen is the world miler of the moment, the 21-year-old Norwegian dispelled them with a powerful smashing of the 1500’s indoor World Record at the fourth Gold-level stop on the Indoor Tour.
His 3:30.60 finish cut 0.44 from the WR set by Ethiopia’s Samuel Tefera 3 years and a day previously (see box for the progression of the all-time fastest).
Seemingly completely unruffled by a reported coaching adjustment in which older brother Henrik has inherited the primary mentoring role from father Gjert, Ingebrigtsen lined up against a field that included Tefera.
A Wavelight pace system and two rabbits — Julian Ranc and hare extraordinaire Erik Sowinski — operated on behalf of Ingebrigtsen, who raced a European Record 3:31.80 here a year ago. This edition’s improved pandemic circumstances allowed for cheering spectators.
Ranc carried the pace through 400 in 55.64 and 800 in 1:52.19, as Ingebrigtsen split 1:52.8 at the latter post, 0.3 up on Tefera’s record figure.
At 900 (2:06.0), Ranc moved outside and Sowinski churned at the front past 1K in 2:20.90 where Ingebrigtsen — 2:20.98 just about dead on for an even-paced record — took charge, with no one else close save Tefera.
With 400 left Ingebrigtsen, looking fresh as a daisy, led his Ethiopian rival by 2m and then opened a session of finishing school. Over the next circuit he built his lead to about 8m and on the final backstretch put any hint of a challenge away with a rising cadence before crossing the line 20-plus meters ahead of Tefera’s 3:33.70.
Spreading arms wide, then pumping his right fist, Ingebrigtsen drank in the crowd appreciation on his victory lap before handing his partner Elizabeth Asserson his winner’s bouquet, accepted with a kiss.
“It’s awesome to be back in Liévin, Ingebrigtsen declared. “There’s always a fast race, really nice arena, and this time with a beautiful crowd. So I’m just really happy to be able to run fast. Today was awesome.”
Asked by onfield announcer Marc Maury about the relatively cautious first-kilo pacing — a relative description in itself when a record schedule is involved — Ingebrigtsen said, “I like to finish strong. I think that’s nice for the crowd, as well, and also really nice for me to speed up going into the finish. So that’s always a great feeling.”
His next major target will be World Indoor gold in his first appearance on that stage.
Grant Holloway, the 60H WR holder and the indoor sticks’ only practitioner under 7:40 since ’08, inched closer to the level of his 7.29 performance of a year ago.
After warming up with a 7.40 heat, the former Florida great got out ahead of a stacked field, looked to lead by about a meter from fellow American Jarrett Eaton at the third hurdle and streaked to the finish in 7.35 for the equal-No. 5 clocking of his young career.
Eaton (7.51) succumbed in the fight for second to a strong charge by Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (7.46) over the last two hurdles and to the line.
“I’m having fun,” Holloway said. “Second race of the season so I’m getting ready for Belgrade in about a month, so I’m excited.”
Viz World Record possibilities this winter, Holloway said, “Absolutely. I think the main goal is to just being able to come to different places and being able to execute at a very high level. And I think 7.29 is not really fast so it will be a great way to see that.”
A pair of women’s world leads were established on the track. Dawit Seyaum’s 8:23.24–8:26.77 runaway from Ejgayehu Taye in the 3000 advanced the 25-year-old Ethiopian to No. 3 on the all-time list.
New Balance Indoor 800 victor Natoya Goule triumphed again, with a 1:58.46 Jamaican Record from outdoor world champ Halimah Nakaayi’s 2:00.26 PR.
In the infrequently run 2000, Ethiopian Samuel Zeleke’s 4:57.00 WL took the measure of Abel Kipsang (4:57.21) and Azeddine Habz (4:57.22), as the entire top 8 in the race PRed.
Triple jumper Lázaro Martínez of Cuba bounced out to a PR 56-5¾ (17.21) in the second round. That upped the world lead from his 55-8¼ (16.97) opener.
American pole vault Olympic medalists Chris Nilsen and Katie Nageotte each came out on different sides of tight contests. Recent AR setter Chris Nilsen flew with just a tickle of the bar over 19-4¾ (5.91) on first try to turn back Thiago Braz and Menno Vloon, both 19-¾ (5.81). Clean through the winning height, Nilsen then took three unproductive tries at adding a centimeter to his 19-9 (6.02) AR.
While Nageotte negotiated a 15-9 (4.80) U.S.-leading vault on second try, just barely rustling the bar, she ended 3rd to the first-attempt 15-11 (4.85) clearance of Anzhelika Sidorova. Iryna Zhuk bettered Nageotte on misses, going over 15-9 also, a Belarusian Record.
LIÉVIN MEN’S RESULTS
(Indoor Tour Gold; 200 banked)—
60: 1. Lamont Marcell Jacobs (Ita) 6.50; 2. Cravont Charleston (US) 6.52 PR; 3. Elijah Hall-Thompson (US) 6.57; 4. Ferdinand Omurwa (Ken) 6.57 NR; 5. Ronnie Baker (US) 6.59; 6. Jimmy Vicaut (Fra) 6.61; 7. Sean Safo-Antwi (Gha) 6.66;… dnc—Arthur Gue Cissé (CI).
800: 1. Mariano Garcia (Spa) 1:46.29; 2. Elliot Giles (GB) 1:46.50; 3. Andreas Kramer (Swe) 1:47.61; 4. Eliott Crestan (Bel) 1:47.75; 5. Noah Kibet (Ken) 1:47.98; 6. Adam Kszczot (Pol) 1:48.06; 7. Tony van Diepen (Neth) 1:48.11; 8. Gabriel Tual (Fra) 1:48.16; 9. Collins Kipruto (Ken) 1:49.08.
1500: 1. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 3:30.60 WR (old WR 3:31.04 Samuel Tefera [Eth] ’19) (56.21, 56.65 [1:52.86], 56.19 [2:49.05], 41.55) (13.77, 27.56, 55.56, 1:51.87);
2. Samuel Tefera (Eth) 3:33.70; 3. Ignacio Fontes (Spa) 3:37.39; 4. Saul Ordóñez (Spa) 3:37.99 PR; 5. Michał Rozmys (Pol) 3:38.82; 6. Charles Grethen (Lux) 3:38.84; 7. Marcin Lewandowski (Pol) 3:44.87; 8. Adihana Kasaye (Eth) 3:45.15; 9. Baptiste Mischler (Fra) 3:48.92; 10. Vincent Keter (Ken) 3:48.97;… rabbits—Julian Ranc (Fra) (55.64, 56.66 [1:52.19]), Eric Sowinski (US) (2:20.90).
2000: 1. Samuel Zeleke (Eth) 4:57.00 PR (WL);
2. Abel Kipsang (Ken) 4:57.21 PR; 3. Azeddine Habz (Fra) 4:57.22 NR; 4. Jimmy Gressier (Fra) 4:57.97 PR; 5. Maximilian Thorwirth (Ger) 4:59.93 PR; 6. Hicham Akankam (Mor) 5:00.51 PR; 7. István Szögi (Hun) 5:00.73 NR; 8. Simon Denissel (Fra) 5:01.19 PR; 9. Ismael Debjani (Bel) 5:02.02 PR; 10. Hailemariyam Amare (Eth) 5:03.52 PR; 11. Tolesa Bodena (Eth) 5:03.92 PR; 12. Mike Foppen (Neth) 5:04.10 NR; 13. Ruben Verheyden (Bel) 5:04.89 PR; 14. Abraham Seme (Eth) 5:08.30 PR.
3000: 1. Lamecha Girma (Eth) 7:30.54; 2. Selemon Barega (Eth) 7:30.66; 3. Getnet Wale (Eth) 7:30.88; 4. Birhanu Yemataw (Bhr) 7:31.77 NR; 5. Andreas Almgren (Swe) 7:34.31 NR; 6. Jacob Krop (Ken) 7:34.67 PR; 7. Mohamed Katir (Spa) 7:36.62; 8. Girma Diriba (Eth) 7:38.79 PR; 9. Elzan Bibić (Ser) 7:42.95 NR; 10. Nicholas Kimeli (Ken) 7:43.31 PR; 11. Mohamed Mohumed (Ger) 7:43.61; 12. Hugo Hay (Fra) 7:43.88 PR; 13. Nibret Melak (Eth) 7:53.22.
60H: 1. Grant Holloway (US) 7.35 (WL, AL) (x, =7 W; x, =4 A);
2. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (Fra) 7.46; 3. Jarret Eaton (US) 7.51; 4. Enrique Llopis (Spa) 7.62; 5. Andy Pozzi (GB) 7.62; 6. Wellington Zaza (Lbr) 7.63; 7. Daniel Roberts (US) 7.67; 8. Wilhem Belocian (Fra) 7.72.
Field Events
PV: 1. Chris Nilsen (US) 19-4¾ (5.91) (18-1, 18-4¾, 18-8¾, 19-¾, 19-2¾, 19-4¾, 19-9¼ [xxx]) (5.51, 5.61, 5.71, 5.81, 5.86, 5.91, 6.03 [xxx]);
2. Thiago Braz (Bra) 19-¾ (5.81); 3. Menno Vloon (Neth) 19-¾; 4. Jacob Wooten (US) 18-10¾ (5.76); 5. Emmanouíl Karalís (Gre) 18-10¾; 6. tie, Piotr Lisek (Pol) & Kurtis Marschall (Aus) 18-8¾ (5.71); 8. Matt Ludwig (US) 18-8¾; 9. Valentin Lavillenie (Fra) 18-8¾; 10. EJ Obiena (Phi) 18-4¾ (5.61); 11. Alioune Sène (Fra) 18-4¾; 12. Rutger Koppelaar (Neth) 18-1 (5.51).
TJ: 1. Lázaro Martínez (Cub) 56-5¾ (17.21) PR (WL) (55-8¼ [WL], 56-5¾, 55-2¼, f, p, p) (16.97, 17.21, 16.82, f, p, p);
2. Max Heß (Ger) 55-0 (16.76); 3. Simo Lipsanen (Fin) 54-5¼ (16.59); 4. Yasser Triki (Alg) 54-2¾ (16.53); 5. Nazim Babayev (Aze) 53-9¼ (16.39); 6. Thomas Gogois (Fra) 53-7¾ (16.35); 7. Andréas Pantazís (Gre) 52-6 (16.00).
LIÉVIN WOMEN’S RESULTS
800: 1. Natoya Goule (Jam) 1:58.46 NR (WL);
2. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 1:58.58 NR; 3. Eglay Nalyanya (Ken) 2:00.26 PR; 4. Angelika Cichocka (Pol) 2:01.52; 5. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 2:01.89 PR; 6. Tigist Girma (Eth) 2:02.20; 7. Hedda Hynne (Nor) 2:02.82; 8. Cynthia Anais (Fra) 2:03.18; 9. Noélie Yarigo (Ben) 2:04.52.
Mile: 1. Gudaf Tsegay (Eth) 4:21.72 PR; 2. Axumawit Embaye (Eth) 4:25.30; 3. Hirut Meshesha (Eth) 4:27.19 PR; 4. Netsanet Desta (Eth) 4:27.22 PR; 5. Esther Guerrero (Spa) 4:28.54 NR; 6. Edina Jebitok (Ken) 4:28.73 PR; 7. Sara Kuivisto (Fin) 4:29.64 NR; 8. Winnie Nanyondo (Uga) 4:30.11; 9. Wezam Tesfay (Eth) 4:30.65 PR (9, x WJ); 10. Aurore Fleury (Fra) 4:32.88 PR; 11. Tigist Ketema (Eth) 4:33.50 PR; 12. Giulia Aprile (Ita) 4:33.84 PR; 13. Hanna Hermansson (Swe) 4:35.47.
3000: 1. Dawit Seyaum (Eth) 8:23.24 PR (WL) (3, 4 W); 2. Ejgayehu Taye (Eth) 8:26.77 PR (10, x W);
3. Fantu Worku (Eth) 8:38.15; 4. Beatrice Chebet (Ken) 8:41.92; 5. Werkwuha Getachew (Eth) 8:44.43; 6. Hanna Klein (Ger) 8:44.61 PR; 7. Zerfe Wondemagegn (Eth) 8:47.27; 8. Ayal Dagnachew (Eth) 8:51.04; 9. Selamawit Teferi (Isr) 8:57.77; 10. Sara Benfarès (Ger) 9:10.73; 11. Edna Chepkemoi (Ken) 9:19.48.
60H: 1. Laeticia Bapte (Fra) 8.00; 2. Reetta Hurske (Fin) 8.06; 3. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 8.11; 4. Elvira Herman (Blr) 8.12; 5. Luca Kozák (Hun) 8.12; 6. Klaudia Siciarz (Pol) 8.19; 7. Hanna Plotitsyna (Ukr) 8.22; 8. Nooralotta Neziri (Fin) 8.38.
Field Events
PV: 1. Anzhelika Sidorova (Rus) 15-11 (4.85) (WL) (14-11, 15-5, 15-9 [2] [=WL], 15-11, 16-¾ [xxx]) (4.55, 4.70, 4.80 [2], 4.85, 4.90 [xxx]); 2. Iryna Zhuk (Blr) 15-9 (4.80) NR; 3. Katie Nageotte (US) 15-9 (4.80) (AL);
4. tie, Huiqin Xu (Chn) & Tina Šutej (Slo) 15-3 (4.65); 6. Yarisley Silva (Cub) 14-11 (4.55); 7. Polina Knoroz (Rus) 14-11; 8. Ninon Chapelle (Fra) 14-5¼ (4.40); 9. Roberta Bruni (Ita) 13-9¼ (4.20); 10. Margot Chevrier (Fra) 13-9¼.
LJ: 1. Yulimar Rojas (Ven) 22-4¼ (6.81) PR (21-7¼, 22-2½, 21-11½, 22-4¼, f, f) (6.58, 6.77, 6.69, 6.81, f, f); 2. Fatima Diame (Spa) 21-9½ (6.64) PR; 3. María Vicente (Spa) 21-8¾ (6.62); 4. Akela Jones (Bar) 21-5½ (6.54); 5. Noor Vidts (Bel) 21-4¼ (6.51) PR; 6. Maelly Dalmat (Fra) 21-1¼ (6.43); 7. Nastassia Mironchyk-Ivanova (Blr) 21-¾ (6.42); 8. Anasztázia Nguyen (Hun) 20-10¾ (6.37); 9. Quanesha Burks (US) 20-5¼ (6.23); 10. Yanis David (Fra) 20-3½ (6.18);… nm—Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (Ukr). ◻︎