Champion Ingebrigtsen labors into 5,000m final
TOKYO: Norway’s double-defending 5,000 meters world champion Jacob Ingebrigtsen and America’s Olympic 1,500m champion Cole Hocker advanced to the final of the 5,000m on Friday where they will hope to make amends for 1,500m frustrations earlier in the week. Ingebrigtsen, who has been battling to get into race shape after an Achilles injury, went out in the heats of the 1,500m, having been beaten in the final in the last two world championships and at last year’s Olympics, but on all three occasions he bounced back to win the 5,000. The Norwegian, who turned 25 on Friday, took up his usual position right at the back of the second heat as, with no fast losers going through, the race rolled along at a Sunday jog pace in perfect, cooler conditions after the heat earlier this week. Ingebrigtsen made his move approaching the bell, but his usual smooth acceleration was missing, and he ended up battling to the line to snatch the eighth and last qualifying berth. “I gave my all but I’m not myself,” said Ingebrigtsen. “I had to do what I could today.
