The 17-year-old Dutch runner who’s quietly breaking Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s records

That makes sense because when you have someone like Jakob ingebrigtsen born in September, just after track season when he runs those times he is 17 years old and 11 months sometimes. But Niels, who’s born in April I think, doesn’t get the chance to run those times when he’s 17 and 11 months because there are no track races in March. When you use the « age » system, it strongly favors those who are born just after track season and those who are born just before are at a disadvantage.

Then you could argue that with the international system, people who are born in December are also at a big disadvantage compared to people born in January, but no system is perfect and I don’t think any of them is dumb.

In this debate, Jakob vs Laros, I think it makes more sense using the international system because there are only 5 months between April and September vs 7 months between September and April.

That’s another debate but you could also argue that in the professional running world, more progress are made between September and April, especially during the winter, whereas April to September is mostly sharpening and finding the right races.

I feel like the article missed two key facts that provide quite a lot of context:

- Jakob ran 3:31 at 17 years and 10 months and Niels ran 3:39 at 17 years and 4 months.

- Jakob didn't run a 3000m race at the age of 17.

I’m the biggest Jakob fan but that’s not a good comparison, when Jakob achieved this double, he was almost a year older than Niels, he was 17 and 11 months, let’s see what Niels can achieve in his first year as an u20.

Also, Jakob didn’t have to face Jakob. Niels has literally no chance to win in a potential euro field with several sub 3:30 or 3:30/31 runners (Wightman, Jakob, Katir, Romo, Kerr, Heyward…) whereas the best runner Jakob had to face in 2018 was his brother Filip, who was injured and couldn’t stay with the leaders. In 2018, 3:31.18 Jakob was ranked second in Europe behind his brother and he was almost a second quicker than the third ranked. Now you would only be ranked 7th/8th in Europe with 3:31.18.

European middle distance has gotten way better, and Jakob is so good that, as long as he is here, it will be almost impossible for another 17/18/19 years old to be a european champion over 1500m or 5k.

Then if I’m being honest I also don’t think Niels can run 3:31 next year because he just isn’t on Jakob’s level and he didn’t have the same training, but I’m still rooting for him, it’s always exciting to see some new talents.

Put him in the field in Monaco next year, and he might run closer than you think.

Jakob ran 8:00 on September 1st 2017 at 16 years, eleven months and a half.

Jakob ran 7:56.74 indoor in February 2018 at 17 years and 5 months.

But he won both races and was never really pushed to his limits.

Ok, I'll add a word: Jakob didn't run an outdoor 3000m race at the age of 17.

Melkeneh AZIZE (ETH)

Age 17

800 Metres 1:48.62

1500 Metres 3:33.74

3000 Metres 7:44.06

worldathletics.org

Melkeneh AZIZE | Profile | World Athletics

Link:worldathletics.org/athletes/ethiopia/m...

Melkeneh AZIZE outclass both Niels LAROS and Ingebrigtsen in every round.

Except he don't have blond hairs.

1) Jakob ran a 3:31 at age 17 which last time I checked is faster than 3:33.

2) Jakob didn't run an outdoor 800 or 3000 at age 17 so what on earth are you comparing Azize's times to?

3) Jakob doesn't have blonde hair.

Aziz run 3:33 at the age 16.

Jacob was 3:36 at best in 2018.

The 3:31 was made (as most of Jakob PB) in a paced Monaco race.

Ingebrigtsen. INGEBRIGTSEN.

You got it. You got it RIGHT. L'inn, I'm so proud of you. Just 50+ attempts, I havn't expected this.

Obviously I used Google Wiki to copy the name.

What I really want to know is whats he training as hard as a 4 year old as Jakob was? Because that was the key to Ingebrigtsen's secret according to Jakob himself.

Oh, that's sad. Maybe two more years? I still havn't lost all my hope for you. Good luck.

Ingerbrigsten! that's it?

correct your grammar first.

Melkeneh AZIZE honors:

1 Gold Medal in the 3000m World U20 Championships (Age 17)

1 Bronze medal 1500m (Nairobi) World U20 Championships (Age 16)

I would seriously recommend that you invest in a geography lesson. The Nordic countries are essentially Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Yes, but Jakob ran his 3:31 at Monaco, and as somebody else pointed out, the fact that Neils is born later in the year means that he will always run his outdoor races 6 months younger than Jakob at the same age.

Also, Jake Wightman ran 3:51 as a 17 year old.