JakobGOATbrigtsen wrote:
I have no doubt that my king Jakob Ingebrigtsen will run sub 3:45 tomorrow.
Some comments from Jakob on El Guerrouj’s sayings about the Norwegian’s (quote) slow times in the 1500m:
World record holder takes a dig at Ingebrigtsen: – It’s probably best to stay silent
Hicham El Guerrouj claims he could run many seconds faster if he could use the same equipment as today’s runners. Jakob Ingebrigtsen is not impressed.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Hicham El Guerrouj
Hicham El Guerrouj believes his achievements must be seen in light of poorer equipment when he was active. Jakob Ingebrigtsen will not comment on that.
PHOTO: NTB
Viktor Sødal – Journalist
Journalist
Brede Bleiklie Thomassen – Journalist in Lievin
Journalist in Lievin
Fredrik Tombra – Journalist
Journalist
Published today at 08:28 Updated 3 hours ago
– I think it’s probably best to stay silent in this context.
That’s what Jakob Ingebrigtsen says to NRK after being confronted with Hicham El Guerrouj’s (50) comment.
The Moroccan is the world record holder in the 1500 meters and is considered by many to be a historic middle-distance runner.
Before Christmas, El Guerrouj was asked by the Spanish newspaper El País how fast he could have run with the same equipment that Jakob Ingebrigtsen runs with today.
– I am not saying this to highlight myself – and I am completely honest and without arrogance – but I ran 3.26 with PVC shoes and PVC is not carbon. That is a completely different thing, El Guerrouj tells the newspaper.
Paris Olympics Athletics
The shoes in the 2004 Olympics and the shoes in the 2024 Olympics
NTB / NTB
Now El Guerrouj believes that he could run much faster if he could have used the same equipment as today's athletes.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen will make his season debut on Thursday in Lievin, France, by running one mile. You can watch the race on NRK 1 at 21.20.
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Could jump 3.23
El Guerrouj dominated middle and long distance at the turn of the millennium. On his list of achievements he is listed with Olympic gold and four World Championship gold medals in 1500 meters, and also the world record which reads 3:26.00 minutes.
Ingebrigtsen's European record is 3:26.73.
– I think I had the skills, both physically and mentally, to jump 3:24 or 3:23. I would have made it easy, claims El Guerrouj – and adds:
– Today I wonder how Jakob, who runs 7.17 in 3000 meters, always runs 3.28 or 3.27. I don't understand it, he continues.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Lievin, PK
SEASON START: Jakob Ingebrigtsen is ready to start the season in French Lievin.
Big improvements
One of those who also ran with similar shoes to El Guerrouj was NRK expert Vebjørn Rodal, Olympic gold medalist in the 800 meters in 1996.
He supports El Guerrouj in that he probably would have run faster with today's modern carbon shoes.
– It is clear that he would have run faster with today's shoes than the ones we used in the 90s, says Rodal.
Rodal believes that as much has happened in shoe development in the last five years as has happened in the last 30 years.
– But converting that into time over distance is not that easy. It is very individual, says Rodal.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen believes that El Guerrouj is not alone in dreaming of such good times in 1500 meters, such as 3.23-3.24.
– I think that is what we are all trying for.
Because Jakob Ingebrigtsen currently has three world records, but lacks the world record at his favorite distance, 1500 meters outdoors.
– I want to run faster. At one time or another, you run faster than others. So I think first and foremost about trying to improve myself and have a personal development. That is how I look at it.
While El Guerrouj dreams of what times he could run, Ingebrigtsen will make his season debut by running an indoor mile in Lievin, France.
Then he will chase another record.
Yared Nuguse recently broke the indoor “dream mile” record with a time of 3:46.63.
It happened during the Millrose Games this past weekend. Nuguse took bronze in the 1500 meters during the Summer Olympics in Paris, just ahead of Ingebrigtsen.
– Everyone really wants it, but there are world records for a reason – and you can’t just stand up and take them as you please, says Ingebrigtsen.
– Will you be disappointed if you don’t break a world record here?
– Yes, the 24-year-old answers flatly.
In addition to Nuguse’s world record, Grant Fisher ran 3000 meters in a time of 7:22.91 – and thus broke the world record. Fisher took two bronze medals in the Olympics this summer, both in the 5000 and 10,000 meters.
But it hasn’t just been world records that have been set recently.
Last week, Narve Gilje Nordås broke Jakob Ingebrigtsen's Norwegian record for the 3000 meters indoors.
Nordås' new record is 7:39.05.
Later that same week, Filip Ingebrigtsen became the second Norwegian to run under 7:40 for the 3000 meters.
Now he will run the same distance again in Levin, under a week later.

