Team Ingebrigtsen were welcomed by the media at the Thon Hotel Opera in Oslo this morning prior to the 54th Bislett Games later this week. With the Games selling out a week before the event the Ingebrigtsens have certainly contributed to its success and an increased interest in track and field athletics in Norway.
On Thursday, Filip and Jakob Ingebrigtsen will be competing in the famous Bislett Dream Mile while older brother, Henrik is running the 3000m.
Henrik Ingebrigsten, who first competed at Bislett back in 2010, said:
– This year my brothers have knocked me out of the Dream Mile with their faster times but don’t worry I will be back next year.
Meanwhile he is excited with the prospect of challenging Norway’s 3000m record, 7:40.77, set back in 2001 by Marius Bakken he said:
– My PB is 7:42 so I would definitely like to improve on that and break the Norwegian record. It will depend on how the race goes but if we do not go out too fast then I think I have a chance and I can pick it up after the first one km and go on to achieve another record for Team Ingebrigtsen.
There are some big names in the race to challenge him with Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris returning from injury and world number one, Ethiopian Seleon Barega, amongst the favourites.
Dream Mile
The famous Dream Mile, which will conclude the evening’s programme, has never had a Norwegian winner in its 50 years history. Filip and Jakob Ingebrigtsen will be looking to change that on Thursday.
European champion from 2016, Filip Ingebrigtsen, started his 2019 Diamond League campaign last week in Rome in the 5000m. He commented “It was a good race in Rome for me with a personal best but it was a hard race as twelve and a half laps is a very long way for a miler!
– But it was good to be back and I feel I have recovered well and am ready for Thursday. It is a bit of a risk doing such a long race before a big race like Bislett but I felt good after the race and Jakob and I did a good work out yesterday so I feel ready.
Challenging him will be younger brother, Jakob who at just 18, will be competing in his first Dream Mile. His target will be older brother, Henrik’s Norwegian record from 2014 of 3:50.72 as well as the prospect of becoming the first Norwegian winner of the Dream Mile.
Jakob said,
– Last year I remember hearing the crowd and how loud it was. With the mile being the last event it is sure to be an amazing atmosphere on Thursday.
– In Stockholm I was recovering from illness but afterwards I have felt better and better so I think I am going into the race in great shape. It is a long season with Doha being in the autumn so we have split our season into two with two altitude camps. I am hoping my body responds well as Oslo is one of the biggest events of the season. My other goal is to make the Diamond League final as last year I was unwell so missed out.
Full-time athlete
Jakob graduated from high school last week so Bislett will be his first race as a full-time, professional athlete. He said,
– I am done with school now although right now it is nothing different but from the end of the summer I will notice that I am not going back! So I intend to be a full time athlete for the next ten or so years.
As usual the Bislett Games has attracted a very high calibre field for the Dream Mile headed by former Dream Mile winner, Ayanieh Souleiman as well as a trio of Kenyans, Bethwell Birgen, Vincent Kibet and Justus Soget. Australian Ryan Gregson could also be amongst those challenging for places.
Carol Austin for the Bislett Games media team
