Brothers target Bislett success

Younger brother, Jakob is in great form becoming the youngest ever athlete to achieve a sub-four minute mile when he ran a U20 world lead of 3:58.07 in Eugene last month. 

He will be looking for another sub four in the U20 Dream Mile event on Thursday. 

He said “I feel really strong, my training has been very good.  I am confident and the shape I am in is better than ever. I am hoping for a really good race and I am looking forward to it. 

On his race in Eugene, he said, “It hasn’t added to my pressure.  There is a lot of people talking about it, in the media and on social media but my focus is on running here as well as I can.

Looking forward to the season ahead, he added, “My target for the season is to run at least 3:38 in the 1500m, I am going to the U20 European Championships and I want to bring home at least one medal from that.  To get to the World Champs in London I would have to run 3:36 and that is pretty tough so I cannot say.  It is not a goal for this season so if I got there it would be a bonus.  My main goal will be to reach the European Championships next year.”

Older brother, Filip Ingebrigtsen, the 2016 European 1500m Champion will be up against a high quality field in the 1500m. 

On his preparations for the Bislett Games, Filip said “I think my shape is really good.  It is my first 1500m of the season.  I felt strong in the mile in Eugene but it was a messy race.  I think here I can do a fast time and keep up with the other guys.”

Elijah Manangoi and Silas Kiplagat of Kenya; Abdelaati iguider of Morocco; and Ayanieh Souleiman of Djbouti are likely to be challenging for Diamond League points in the 1500m Diamond Discipline.

On the quality of the opposition, he said, “It is almost better than a world final because of all the Kenyans.  I think if it is not raining and it is warm then the Africans will run fast.  I am hoping for nice weather and good conditions so we can all run fast. 

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, he added, “The main target is the World Championships.  I am competing in Stockholm on Sunday and then to a training camp in Switzerland.  I want to head to London in the best shape ever.  My goal for the Olympics last year was to reach the final but unfortunately I was DQ’d so my aim in London is to reach the final and, if I do that, I will go for a medal.  But there is a long way to go before that final.  I think in the 1500m you have to be mentally strong but you also need some luck.  I think I will be better prepared to make the right choices at the right time in the race.”

On the progress of his younger brother, Jakob, Filip said “Two years ago we competed together in same pre-event in Stockholm and he finished five seconds slower.  Last year we both improved a lot so I need to keep improving at the same rate so I can stay ahead!”