Britain’s Jake Wightman stunned the Olympic champion, the defending world champion and himself at the Oregon22 World Athletics Championships on Tuesday (19) by running the race of his life to win the 1500m title.
Running to a world-leading PB of 3:29.23, the 28-year-old European and Commonwealth bronze medalist left Jakob Ingebrigtsen unanswered as he charged down the straight, eyes on the front. As the finish line approached, the Briton first threw his arms wide and then threw his hands to his head in disbelief, Norwegian Olympic champion Ingebrigtsen following him home in 3:29.47 and Spain’s Mohamed Kathir taking bronze in 3:29.90.
“This is my son,” came the voice over the loudspeaker, the race being announced by stadium announcer Jeff Wightman, the winner’s father and trainer, “and he’s the world champion.”
Disappointed after finishing 10th at the Tokyo Olympics, Jake Wightman went back to work. He focused on building his strength over the winter, getting back into some cross country racing and doing some distance work while refocusing on Oregon.
Accomplishing his goal of staying under the radar through the rounds, he took his place on the starting line at Hayward Field with Ingebrigtsen on his left and Kathir on his right. Kenya’s Abel Kipsang, who had the fastest time of the season in the race, went straight to the front to lead from Ingebrigtsen and Kenya’s defending champion Timothy Cheruiyot, with Wightman sitting behind them. Ingebrigtsen, who broke the world indoor 1500m record in 3:30.60 in February, moved into the lead with two laps to go, with Kipsang and Cheruiyot on his shoulder and Wightman following their every move.
At the bell was Cheruiyot and Wightman’s Ingebrigtsen, with Kipsang running wide on his shoulder. Judging the race to perfection, the Brit first passed Cheruiot to take the lead ahead of Ingebrigtsen with just over 200 meters to go.
As he exited the turn, the expected punch from Ingebrigtsen never came. Looking over his shoulder, the Norwegian looked as if he knew he was beaten and settled for silver, followed by Kathir and his Spanish team-mate Mario Garcia, with a PB of 3:30.20 for fourth place.
Whiteman’s British compatriot Josh Kerr – the Olympic 1500m bronze medalist – finished fifth in 3:30.60, just ahead of Cheruiyot (3:30.69) and Kipsang (3:31.21).
“It probably won’t sink in until I retire,” said Whiteman, who has run 1:44.18 in the 800m and set a 3000m PB of 7:37.81 indoors in February. “This is crazy. I had such a disappointing year in Tokyo last year. I don’t think people realize how crushing it was to come in with such high expectations and leave hoping for a medal but to come 10th.”
His parents — both former elite marathoners — were at Hayward Field to see him win, his father at the microphone for commentary and his mother, Susan, in the stands.
“Sometimes dad can be a little robotic on the mic,” smiled Whiteman Jr., whose time at Oregon is the third-fastest in world championship history. “Some say robot, others say professional. I hope he broke it today. My mother was in tears, so someone was crying.
Reflecting on the race, he added: “The strength for me is that if I can get there with 200m to go I’m always going to make a move because that’s how I feel best running. As soon as the opportunity came up to pass, I just wanted to lead the turn. The only advantage to having a good 800m PB in races like this is if you’re still there with 200m to go, which I haven’t been able to be in previous years.
“Even when I was coming straight out of the house I felt strong, but Jakob is a beast and I never knew if he was going to make it.”
But he didn’t. Wightman’s final lap was clocked at 54.84 and Ingebrigtsen’s was 55.24. In Tokyo, the Norwegian achieved 54.42 for the final 400 meters.
“I felt good, but I couldn’t keep up with Jake in the last 200 meters,” Ingebrigtsen said. “I own it. I’m very disappointed that I didn’t win, but I’m very happy for him. He is a great runner.
He will now focus again on the 5,000 meters, the heats of which are on Thursday.
Kathir competed in the 5000m at last year’s Olympics, with the 24-year-old finishing eighth, but after setting national records in the 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and 10km last year, his decision to compete in the shorter event in Oregon it paid off as he took bronze with his second fastest time.
Right behind him was European U23 silver medalist and NCAA runner-up Garcia, who runs for the University of Mississippi and posted the fastest time by a collegiate athlete.
Cheruiyot has been far from his best form this season and although his presence was felt in the early stages, he lacked the power in the final and disappeared from medal contention.
Ethiopia’s Samuel Tefera won the world indoor title ahead of Ingebrigtsen and Kipsang in Belgrade in March, but finished ninth in his semi-final in Oregon, missing out on the final.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics
MEN’S 1500m MEDALISTS 🥇 Jake Wightman 🇬🇧 GBR 3:29.23 WL 🥈 Jakob Ingebrigtsen 🇳🇴 NOR 3:29.47 SB 🥉 Mohamed Kathir 🇪🇸 ESP 3:29.90 SB Full Results
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