A Fall Keeps Jakob Ingebrigtsen from Perfect Weekend

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

Jakob Ingebrigtsen wanted the hat trick of golds at the European Athletics U20 Championships last weekend in Grosseto, Italy. The 16-year-old Norwegian competed in the 1,500 meters, the 5,000 and the 3,000 steeplechase.

Qualifying on Thursday and Friday in the 1,500 meters and the steeplechase went to plan, with Ingebrigtsen winning his heats and qualifying for the finals.

The trouble began in Ingebrigtsen's first final Saturday, the 1,500 meters. He stayed on the outside of the main pack, trying to stay out of trouble. However, those efforts were not enough.

Ingebrigtsen fell after a collision with another runner with 300 meters to go. Despite several abrasions on his right side, he got up and chased after the all 11 athletics ahead of him. Ingebrigtsen caught three of them, finishing eighth in 3:58.64, less than two seconds back of Great Britain's Jake Heyward.

Not to let the fall end his weekend, Ingebrigtsen got bandaged up and was back out on the track two hours later to compete in the 5,000. He won his first European U20 gold in a time of 14:41.67.

On Sunday, still sporting his bandages, Ingebrigtsen won the 3,000 steeplechase in 8:50.00.

Ingebrigtsen responded to his fall with maturity. Despite only winning two of the three events he had hoped to, he expressed his excitement for his achievement on Instagram.

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