Jacob Ingebrigtsen dominates 1500m in Monaco as Kenya's Timothy Cheruiyot forced to settle for second

Norwegian middle-distance star Jakob Ingebrigtsen set a new world lead and personal best time of 3:26.73 in the 1500m, epitomizing his return to form at the Monaco Diamond League Classic on Friday night.

Ingebrigtsen comfortably won the race, creating a significant gap and leaving Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot and Brian Komen to settle for second and third place, respectively. America’s Ryan Nuguse finished fourth.

Cheruiyot’s time of 3:28.71 marked a seasonal best, while Komen’s 3:28.80 was a personal best. Both athletes were unable to match Ingebrigtsen’s pace as he surged ahead.

Heading to the Paris Olympics, Ingebrigtsen is a hot favorite in both the 1500m and 5,000m events. Displaying his typically brash confidence, Ingebrigtsen remarked that the Summer Games in the French capital should be a "walk in the park."

At just 23, Ingebrigtsen will defend his 1500m title in Paris after winning at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics. He also aims for a distance double in the 5,000m, an event in which he is a two-time world champion.

"If I don't get injured and I don't get sick, I think it's going to be a walk in the park," Ingebrigtsen told European Athletics' Ignite podcast. Despite tasting defeat in the last two world championships 1500m finals, the Norwegian exudes self-belief.

His confidence was never more evident than in Rome in June, where he won his third consecutive European Championships double in the 1500m and 5,000m.

"I never go into a race thinking about the things that I've done before," he said. "Winning is something that I'm always going to chase. It's always a great feeling crossing the finish first, especially in a tight race with great competitors."

The success in Rome, a perfect tonic for Paris, came after a problematic winter nursing an Achilles tendon injury.