The China Mail - Ingebrigtsen banishes 1,500m demons for rare world indoor double

Ingebrigtsen, who had won the 3,000m on Saturday for his first world indoor title, clocked 3min 38.79sec to emulate the double claimed by Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie in Maebashi in 1999.

Britain's Neil Gourley took silver in 3:39.07 while American Luke Houser rounded out the podium (3:39.17).

Ingebrigtsen's victory also banished some of the Norwegian's 1,500m demons.

In his last outing at a world indoors, Ingebrigtsen finished second in the 1,500m to Ethiopian Samuel Tefera in Belgrade in 2022.

That was sandwiched between two world outdoor 1,500m silvers as the Norwegian was twice outsprinted by Britons -- Jake Wightman in 2022 and Josh Kerr a year later -- for victory.

Ingebrigtsen was then surprisingly beaten by Cole Hocker in the 1,500m Olympic final last year, finishing outside the medals, but bouncing back to win the 5,000m gold.

Ingebrigtsen, as his wont, was happy to sit at the back of the nine-strong pack as American Samuel Prakel took up the running in Nanjing, splitting the pack into single file.

The Norwegian moved to the front with four laps to run, Britain's Gourley on his shoulder and Mariano Garcia of Spain also in the running.

Ingebrigtsen surged again, shouldering off Austrian veteran Raphael Pallitsch's clumsy attempt at a pass.

Next to try their luck was Portugal's Isaac Nader, but at the bell it was Ingebrigtsen in charge.

Gourley raced down the inside line of the far straight, but there was to be no Briton to spoil the party at the line, as there has been twice at the world outdoors.

The Norwegian kept not only his speed but also his nerve to see off his rivals, crossing the finish line with a brief look over his shoulder and a wagging index finger.

Y.Parker--ThChM