Opinion: Ingebrigtsen’s quest for 10 world records, he should swap out two distances

© Copyright – 2024 – Athletics Illustrated

Records were made to be broken.

“Making history. What it’s all about! Three down, seven to go! What’s next?”
— Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen should swap out two distance events from his list of 10 world record attempts.

The 23-year-old Norwegian currently holds two world records. They are in the 3000-metre and 2000-metre distances. He also holds what is referred to as the world’s best-known time (not a record) in the two-mile event which is 3218m in length.

OUT OF THIS WORLD ‼️

🇳🇴's Jakob Ingebrigtsen obliterates the 3000m world record at the @MemorialKamili with 7:17.55 🤯

He goes more than 3 seconds faster than the previous world record 😮‍💨#DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/iPTqnnl91D

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 25, 2024

On Sunday, August 25, Ingebrigtsen took down the 28-year-old 3000m world record previously held by Kenyan Daniel Komen. Komen’s time was 7:20.67 from Sept. 1, 1996. Ingebrigtsen ran 7:17:55 at the Stadion Śląski in Chorzów, Poland which is a Diamond League meet. On Sept. 3, 2023, Ingebrigtsen clocked a new world record of 4:43.13 in the 2000m at Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles, Belgium. He already had the two-mile record from June last year having recorded a 7:54.10 performance at Stad de Charléty in Paris, France. So, three of 10 are in the bag; done and dusted.

Ingebrigtsen’s goal to 10 also includes the 1500m, one-mile (1609m), 3000m steeplechase, 5000m, 10,000m, half marathon (21.0975km) and marathon.

The problem with the marathon

For now, Ingebrigtsen should swap out the marathon. Instead, he should attempt the one-hour record and/or the 20km distance event.

The marathon world record is currently sitting at 2:00:35 as set by Kelvin Kiptum from the 2023 Chicago Marathon. The World Athletics points value rating given to that performance is 1322, just two points higher than Ingebrigtsen’s 3000m record. The problem with the marathon is that so much relies on things that are out of one’s control. So, if an attempt is made and he runs the entire way, it may be months or a year before he can properly race the marathon again. Meanwhile, he could be busy smashing other records instead of recovering.

Ingebrigtsen in all other distances can make several attempts during each season in the shorter distances including the half marathon. In the marathon, there are just a select few courses that are available and offer any chance at the world record, they are London, Chicago, Berlin, Valencia, and Tokyo. Chicago and Berlin are run weeks apart in Sept. and Oct. respectively, so only one of those two races can be attempted each year. Tokyo and London happen in March and April, so the same rule applies there. The only exception is that if he runs short of 30km and drops out, then a new attempt can be made during the same season. Valencia stands alone in early December. Weather and less-than-perfect preparation can derail the marathon and an entire season.

With that being said, the goalposts in this distance have recently been moved and traditional expectations were thrown out. For example, two Olympic marathon records were broken in Paris, when the experts and prognosticators were unanimous in their opinions that the steep hills of the Paris route, would result in slow times. Additionally, there have been jaw-dropping marathon performances by novices. No longer, is the idea that at least three marathons should be run before the athlete can do their best. Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa clocked the world record of 2:11:53 in her first serious attempt, then earned a silver medal in Paris, just seconds short of gold. Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya ran his first three marathons within 10 months. He won them all and broke Eliud Kipchoge’s world record going 2:00:35. Things have changed.

The one-hour, 20km and half-marathon

In preparation for a marathon, the 20km, half-marathon or one-hour records can be attempted. These races will challenge the same energy systems and will require the same training regimen.

The current half-marathon world record is 57:31 and is held by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo. The points value applied to this record is 1288. In theory, it is a weaker record than Ingebrigtsen’s current times over shorter distances. In 2020, Great Britain’s Mo Farah ran as far as 21,330m in one hour. This is only 189m longer than the half-marathon distance, yet 2:30 longer in time. This record is weaker than Kiplimo’s half-marathon performance.

Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea ran a time of 56:01 at the 2006 World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, Hungary in the 20km event. The World Athletics points performance rating is just 1241. If Ingebrigtsen can take Kiplimo’s half-marathon record, he can take all three. Additionally, during some half-marathons and perhaps a one-hour race, he can take the 20km “en route” world’s best-known time.

Including his current 2000m, 3000m and two-mile (3218m) records, that would make six or seven of 10, depending on if he earned an en route record.

The 3000m steeplechase

The 3000m steeplechase requires a skill he has proven to possess as he holds the national U20 record in the event. However, it’s been a while and he will have to do some specific training with the barriers again. This could invite an added risk of injury during preparation or while racing.

The current 3000msc world record is 7:52.11 or 1295 points. It is held by Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia.

One bad fall over a barrier could lead to injury that would end a season. Girma clipped the final barrier at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and landed hard on the track, he was hospitalized. The landing, while running nearly 30/kph looked very hard. He did not move for some time.

While the time to run is just under eight minutes, it requires the same energy system or effort as the 3000m. Meanwhile, the 5000m and 10,000m are within the same realm. The previous and current world record holders in the 5000m, also hold the 10,000m records simultaneously. Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia and now Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda. Cheptegei has run 12:35.11 (1302) and 26:11.00 (1306), respectively.

Points and times of various distances

The shortest ultramarathon of 50km seems a distant cousin to the 1500m or mile events. But if Ingebrigtsen believes he can run the marathon in under 2:00:35, then he can surely run a world record in the 50km event too. It is only 7.8km longer or approximately 23 minutes.

The same could be said for the 30km event, which he could attain. The current record is soft in comparison and relates closer to the half-marathon distance.

While Ingebrigtsen attempts the various world records, his competitors will likely break some too. Records were made to be broken. Holding, 10 records and best-known times simultaneously, now that would be a coup of epic proportion.

Once all of the shorter distance records have been attempted, then he should go for the marathon record.