ZCZC
BSP-04
ATHLETICS-EUR-INDOOR-NOR-INGEBRIGTSEN
Ingebrigtsen beats brother and bedtime to win European Indoor 3,000m
GLASGOW, March 3, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Teenage sensation Jakob Ingebrigtsen won
the European Indoor 3,000 metres in Glasgow on Saturday, beating his older
brother Henrik into third place before joking the late evening start meant he
had been up “16 minutes past my bedtime”.
The 18-year-old Norwegian is the reigning European outdoor champion at
both 1,500 metres and 5,000m after a stunning double triumph in Berlin last
year, with British middle-distance great Steve Cram even suggesting he could
be a “once in a lifetime” athlete.
Ingebrigtsen, the youngest person recorded to run a mile in under four
minutes at the age of 16, endorsed those words on Saturday with a win by 15
metres in a time of seven minutes, 56.51 seconds.
So commanding was his victory, he was even able to wave to spectators and
take a long look behind him, where Britain’s Chris O’Hare, running in front
of his Scottish home crowd, overtook Henrik Ingebrigtsen with a late surge on
the final straight to finish second.
The champion, however, insisted it had been a tough race.
“It wasn’t easy, there were a lot of elbows,” said Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
“It was a really good competition with good athletes and I’m glad to be on
the podium. I am 16 minutes past my bedtime, but it’s an amazing day.”
Meanwhile Edinburgh-based O’Hare, 28, added: “With Jakob in races now it
feels like there’s only two medals left. The guy is incredible, so I am happy
to split up the Ingebrigtsens and it is good just to be back on the medal
podium.
“It has been four years if not more since I have been on a podium and it
has been a hell of a four years. I wouldn’t change it, it has made me the
person I am. And hopefully this is another step forward. I definitely got
there on crowd power.”
BSS/AFP/MSY/0900 hrs