Jakob Ingebrigtsen said he wanted to break the 1,500m meeting and Norwegian national record in front of his home crowd at the Oslo Diamond League, and that’s exactly what he accomplished. On Thursday night, the 22-year-old dominated the men’s 1,500m from start to finish, crossing the line in a remarkable time of 3:27.95, setting a new European record. In doing so, he joined an elite group of six men who have gone under the 3:28 barrier.
Ingebrigtsen wasn’t the only Norwegian athlete who delivered a breakthrough performance on home soil. In the 400m hurdles, 2020 Olympic champion and world record holder Karsten Warholm made a stunning comeback, displaying his electrifying speed. He blazed through the race, setting a Diamond League record of 46.52 seconds, the fifth-fastest time in history.
European record euphoria for Jakob
After his two-mile best performance at Paris Diamond League on June 9, all eyes were on Ingebrigtsen and what he could do for 1,500m in Oslo. Earlier in the week, he said the world record of 3:26.00 could or could not be in the cards, but he wanted to give it a shot and break the meeting record of 3:29.12 from 1998. The 2020 Olympic 1,500m champion got out to a quick start, reaching 800m in 1:51. As the bell rung for the final lap, Ingebrigtsen held off a surging Mohamed Katir and Yared Nuguse to win in 3:27.95.
A new European record 👏
Jakob Ingebrigtsen puts on a show in the 1500m in front of his home crowd ❤️️#BBCAthletics pic.twitter.com/ATwZ6Ii97H
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 15, 2023
Breaking the 3:28 barrier meant a lot for Ingebrigtsen, who jumped around Oslo’s Bislett Stadium for joy five to ten minutes after winning the men’s 1,500m. Katir finished in second behind Ingebrigtsen in a season’s best 3:28.89, which is just shy of his best of 3:28.76. Nuguse was third in a new North American record of 3:29.02, breaking Bernard Lagat’s previous record time of 3:29.30, which has stood for 18 years. (Lagat holds a personal best of 3:26.34, but it was run before he became a US citizen from Kenya in 2005).
Diamond League record for Warholm
In his first outdoor race of the 2023 season, Warholm put down a statement run in front of his home crowd. After missing the podium at the 2022 World Championships and battling with injuries, he ran a Diamond League record of 46.52 seconds, winning by over a second for the fifth-fastest time in history. Warholm emerged out of the blocks and attacked the first 200m, developing a tremendous lead in his favorite lane, lane seven. When Warholm entered the final 100m, it was just him versus the clock, breaking his former Diamond League record of 46.70 seconds in thrilling fashion.
#OSLODL 🇳🇴 – 🏃♂️ 400M HAIES
1. Karsten Warholm 🇳🇴 46.52 DLR MR WL
2. CJ Allen 🇺🇸 47.58 PB
3. Wilfried Happio 🇫🇷 48.13 SB
4. Ludvy Vaillant 🇫🇷 48.59 #Athlétismepic.twitter.com/v413RKcst8— MR.CARTER (@NelsonCarterJr) June 15, 2023
“It really sucked to be injured last year, and I wanted to make sure I came back with a big boom,” said Warholm. “I want a world gold medal this year (in Budapest in August) that would be amazing to have again.”
Fast photo-finish 5,000m
The finish of the men’s 5,000m at the Oslo Diamond League came down to the closest of margins. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo tied for the sixth-fastest time in history, clocking 12:41.73, in a tight photo finish. Kejelcha made a move on Kiplimo with just over 400m to go, but Kiplimo managed to pull the Ethiopian in over the final 200m but Kejelcha out-dipped Kiplimo by a hair to take the win and a meeting record. There are only four athletes who have gone faster than 12:41.73 in history: world record holder Joshua Cheptegei, Ethiopian legends Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie, and Kenya’s Daniel Komen.
WOW 🤯
12:41.73… 5th fastest 5,000m in history.
The battle between 🇺🇬 Joseph Kiplimo and 🇪🇹 Yomif Kejelcha comes down to a photo finish at the @BislettGames #OsloDL pic.twitter.com/T4Vcd6m2pw
— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) June 15, 2023
A season’s best for DeGrasse
young american phenom Erriyon Knighton continued his stellar run, taking the 200m win at Oslo Diamond League in a meeting record of 19.77 seconds. Canada’s Andre DeGrasse had a rough start out of the blocks but battled back to take fifth in the final 100m in 20.33 seconds.
“I am pleased with this evening’s performance; to get a season’s best after injury means I am moving in the right direction,” said De Grasse to post-race reporters. “All I can do and get stronger every meet. I am healthy again, so I can keep improving. We are two months away from the World Championships, so I have time to get back, and I am taking it one day at a time.”
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You can view the full results from the 2023 Oslo Diamond League here.
