Ingebrigtsen matches Gebrselassie’s historic feat at worlds

Jakob Ingebrigtsen completed a golden double by capturing the men’s 1,500 metres title on the final day of the World Indoor Athletics Championships on Sunday, a day after the Norwegian claimed the 3,000m crown.

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Victory in three minutes 38.79 seconds meant Ingebrigtsen also matched the feat of Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie who won the double at the 1999 indoor worlds in Maebashi, Japan.

The 24-year-old Ingebrigtsen had warmed up for the global meeting with a similar effort at the European indoors in Apeldoorn, in the Netherlands, earlier this month. “Of course this is something special,” said Ingebrigtsen.

“It’s very difficult to compare yourself against history and what others are doing. I’m only focusing on myself and feel good to have done a lot of preparations, and that was the main goal.

“It’s not to do with something somebody else did before. I think I can do more, so I’ll try to maximise that and grab the opportunity given to me.”

The Olympic 5,000m champion was barely troubled after he took the lead midway and staved off Briton Neil Gourley, who claimed silver in 3:39.07, while American Luke Houser took bronze in 3:39.17.