A landmark twist unfolded during the 1,500-meter finals at the Budapest World Cup. Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway was edged by England’s Josh Kerr, mirroring a similar setback he faced last year against another neighbor from the same island as Jake Wightman. Spaniard Mario García Romo climbed to a solid sixth, two places better than his 2022 showing, perhaps paying a price for pushing hard in a sub-3:30 pace.
Relating to
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This challenge was formidable, yet the Salamanca athlete showed resilience in Eugene last year, securing fourth place. He wasn’t pegged as a favorite at the Spanish Championship the prior year, yet he has faced rivals and major meets with no fear since his decisive victory.
The roster was set to shift as Jakob Ingebrigtsen pursued his first global title both outdoors and indoors, following a setback to Jake Wightman in Eugene and Tefera’s ceiling-bursting performance in Belgrade the previous year. Also in the mix were American Yared Nuguse, his Colorado training partner, along with Kenyan Abel Kipsang, and British runners Josh Kerr and Neil Gourley.
Two ‘Yankee’ friends against the Norwegian ally
Six medals Spain has earned in World Cup history illuminated the horizon, a curious test for those on the track. José Luis González opened the season with silver, following in the footsteps of Abdi Bile from Somalia in Rome in 1987; Fermín Cacho earned two silvers behind Noureddine Morcelli in 1993 and ahead of Hicham El Guerrouj in 1997. Reyes Estévez secured two bronzes (1997 and 1999), and Mohamed Katir added a bronze last year in Oregon.
Mario García Romo signaled his intent for a fast race, while Ingebrigtsen’s pace contributed to a relentless rhythm in Eugene, pressing opponents to erase fears. The National Athletic Center buzzed with energy, the venue feeling nearly full, temperatures less stifling than noon. Villar de Gallimazo, a village of about 200, sat three and a half minutes from his dream.
The final delivered expectation, with Kipsang putting in a strong top-400 split (56.03). The moment came as the youngest Ingebrigtsen surged past 800 meters (1:54.19) and the bell rang (2:35.89). Back in the mix, García challenged Romo, but the Spaniard conceded too much ground, making recovery costly. Yet the memory of Eugene lingered, as Kerr studied Wightman’s win and replayed it step by step with stealthy precision.
In the final turn, the Salamanca athlete finished ninth, while the Norwegian pushed toward the lead, sensing a possible downfall. It marked a third World Cup appearance for him. Kerr claimed victory in 3:39.28, followed by Ingebrigtsen at 3:29.65 and Narve Gilje Nordås at 3:29.68. Salamanca’s runner achieved sixth place with 3:30.26, tying the best Spanish finish ever in the stadium by height.
Looking ahead, Jakob Ingebrigtsen is set to return to the track this Thursday to race in the 5,000-meter series alongside Spaniards Mohamed Katyir and Oumaiz. The rivalry with Scandinavian athletes persists, yet in athletics the trend remains that competition fosters improvement rather than arrogance.