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. I was not sure if I would make the final but here I am. I don’t have any idea what I am going to do in the final. I will try my best.”
Hocker, the shock 1,500m winner in Paris last year, was disqualified in the 1,500m semifinals this week after pushing his way through the pack on the home straight.
After leading for much of the first of the two heats on Friday, he again found himself boxed in, but seemingly having learned his lesson, he remained patient and drifted into the safety of lane three to come home safely, and cleanly.
His compatriot Grant Fisher, the world leader this year, and France’s Jimmy Gressier, surprise winner of the 10,000m, also progressed to the final on Sunday, the final day of competition.
A surprise absentee will be Sweden’s 10,000m bronze medallist in Tokyo Andreas Almgren, who finished ninth in the first heat.
Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali, who suffered a shock defeat on the line as he sought a hat-trick of titles in the 3,000m steeplechase, was scheduled to take part in the 5,000 but did not start.
Champion Ingebrigtsen labors into 5,000m final
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Champion Ingebrigtsen labors into 5,000m final
- Ingebrigtsen made his move approaching the bell, but his usual smooth acceleration was missing
- Grant Fisher, the world leader this year, and France’s Jimmy Gressier, surprise winner of the 10,000m, also progressed to the final on Sunday
Stokes calls on England to ‘show a bit of dog’ in must-win Adelaide Test
ADELAIDE: Ben Stokes has called on England to “show a bit of dog” in the must-win third Ashes Test against Australia on Wednesday after “raw” conversations following heavy defeats in Perth and Brisbane.
The tourists have crashed to consecutive eight-wicket losses and must snap a 17-match winless streak in Australia at Adelaide Oval to keep the five-match series alive.
They have made just one change with Josh Tongue replacing fellow quick Gus Atkinson, while off-spinning allrounder Will Jacks kept his place ahead of Shoaib Bashir.
England skipper Stokes said after the Gabba defeat that Australia was “no place for weak men” and admitted to “raw” dressing room conversations in the aftermath.
“We don’t do getting into rooms and have big things up on the screen. We have proper, meaningful conversations. What’s been said has been said,” he told English media.
“I’ve done all the talking over the last two days that I needed to. All that stuff’s done now, so it’s about what gets seen out on the field in Adelaide this week.”
Stokes was called “the most competitive person I’ve ever come across” by former England captain Alastair Cook last week and the 34-year-old allrounder demanded more fight from his team.
“It’s just about trying to fight in every situation that you find yourself in, understanding the situation and what you feel is required for your team,” said Stokes.
“Just look at your opposition every single time and show a bit of dog. That’s fight to me. You’re giving yourself the best possible chance if you’ve got a bit of dog in you.”
He cited England’s battling third Test win against India at Lord’s in July as an example of the grit he wanted to see in Adelaide, with the hosts winning by 22 runs deep into day five after a time-wasting row.
“That’s exactly what I’m on about,” he said.
“We were probably in a situation where we would have to be absolutely perfect to win that game and we were.
“The attitude and the mentality toward that specific situation is what gave us the best chance of winning that game.”
Since arriving in Australia, England have been under intense media scrutiny and faced hostile crowds at Perth and Brisbane.
Just five of the players used so far had previously played an Ashes series in Australia and Stokes acknowledged it had been confronting for the newcomers.
“Honestly, I think so,” he said. “Now I feel everyone has experienced that and probably at its highest level, so we all know what it’s going to be like.
“So for the next three games there isn’t going to be any of that ‘I didn’t expect this’ or ‘it’s the first time I’ve had this’.”
