Having missed out on the 1500 gold in the last two World Championships, reigning Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen set out to remind his foes, pre-Paris, who they are dealing with. The Norwegian, in a typically solo performance after his pacers stepped off, ran his fastest 1500 ever to highlight the Meeting Herculis.
The world-leading effort came after Slovenia’s Žan Rudolf led through the first two laps in 55.17 and 55.49 (1:50.66) before stepping aside. Belgian Pieter Sisk then led through 1000 before Ingebrigtsen confidently took over, already with a healthy lead over Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot and American Yared Nuguse
“When you achieve great results, it is easier to be confident for the future competitions,” said Ingebrigtsen, who strengthened his hold on No. 4 all-time with the No. 6 performance ever. “I am excited about Paris. I feel strong, I will do my best and hopefully bring home the gold medal.”
Behind him, Nuguse had moved into 2nd on the backstretch but showed little in the way of a kick. On the final stretch he could not match the sprints of Cheruiyot (3:28.71) and Brian Komen (3:28.80 PR), finishing 4th at 3:29.13, the No. 3 performance ever by an American.
In the 800, it is looking more and more like no one on earth will be able to stop the juggernaut that is Djamel Sedjati. The 25-year-old Algerian — of whom little was known before he burst onto the scene with a 1:44.91 just 3 years ago — once again demolished the world’s best 2-lappers with his kick. This time he counted among his victims the reigning world champion, Marco Arop of Canada, who led onto the final stretch but could not close the deal.
Unlike in Paris, where Sedjati had company at the finish, here he won going away in a national record 1:41.46 to solidify his place as No. 3 all-time. Mohamed Attaoui chopped more than 2 seconds off his best to run a Spanish Record 1:42.04 in 2nd, barely ahead of France’s Gabriel Tual (1:42.10), Kenya’s Aaron Cheminingwa (1:42.13) and Britain’s Ben Pattison (1:42.27 PR). Arop had to settle for 6th with his 1:42.93.
Said Sedjati, “Now I am thinking about the World Record, I hope to run it at the Olympic Games. I have two more weeks to prepare. I will focus on that and put in the necessary work so that I can achieve my goal.”
The first major running event of the night had jump-started the evening’s excitement. For the first time since last year’s Pre Classic/DL Final, history’s three fastest 400 hurdlers lined up together. Trials winner Rai Benjamin in lane 5, ’22 world champ Alison dos Santos in 6, and reigning Olympic champ Karsten Warholm in 7. History’s No. 5, ’19 world champ Abderrahmane Samba started in 8.
While it appeared the Norwegian got his typical fast start, he had company this time. Both dos Santos and Benjamin kept pace with Warholm down the backstretch, and it was only on the second turn that he fought his way to a faint lead. He held that onto the straight, but Benjamin rallied and took the win, 46.67–46.73, with dos Santos fading to 47.18 in 3rd.
“I didn’t run the race I wanted to execute but it was all about getting in and seeing what do I have in me,” said Benjamin. “I didn’t run the home straight as strong as I usually do but that’s OK as I won… Paris is going to be madness. I have to win there. I believe I can do it. I’ll go back home and try to get as sharp as possible.”
The 400 strengthened Quincy Hall’s claim as the prime challenger to Steven Gardiner in Paris. The 25-year-old Trials winner (in a PR 44.17) showed no hint of jet lag as he hammered his best down to 43.80 in a convincing win over Vernon Norwood’s 44.34.
“After the Trials I knew I needed to step up my game a little bit and that it would be enough to run this fast,” Hall said. “I feel like I have a lot more in my tank. I just need to start strong and then I can finish strong as well.”
Grant Holloway didn’t get his usual lightning start in the short hurdles, but it was enough to lord over the field with a 13.01 into a slight (0.7) wind. Italy’s Lorenzo Ndele Simonelli ran 13.08 to place 2nd ahead of Cordell Tinch (13.10) and Trey Cunningham (13.13).
“I was tired after the Trials,” Holloway explained, “They took a lot from me. The only thing I need now is rest.”
With Noah Lyles having scratched from the 200 several days earlier, Letsile Tebogo had an easy day of it, running 19.87 while easing up and looking around. Alexander Ogando grabbed 2nd in 20.02.
The only men’s field event had Shelby McEwen leading the high jump through a season best 7-7 (2.31). At the next bar, World Indoor champ Hamish Kerr tied his PR 7-7¾ (2.33) on his third try while McEwen couldn’t get over.
Said Kerr, “I am really proud of my last three heights especially. They really show that I have some nice heights in my legs and that I can survive under pressure.”
