The Coronation

Photo by Moa Segerholt

The Coronation

Words Jeff Merrill

3 years. It’s been 3 years since the coronation of the brash 20-year-old Ingebrigtsen in a cavernous Tokyo stadium.

3 years since he went toe to toe with the world champion Timothy Cheruiyot and bested him in a battle of strength.

In the 3 years since, the Norwegian has been beaten only 4 times in an outdoor race of any consequence at 1500m or above. The last two coming at the hands of the browbeating Scotsman who took Olympic bronze 3 years ago. The one who eased up onto the Norwegian’s shoulder in the semi final, like he did in Budapest last year before beating him in the final. The one who took control of the Bowerman Mile earlier this year with 600m to go and drove the field into submission.

Yared Nuguse was lurking there, a presence over the past 2 years. He has run 3:43 and 3:29 since. With a hard pace, he will be there again providing he satys clean and out of trouble.

Cole Hocker was 6th 4 years ago and can close as well as anyone off a hard pace. In 2021, he burst onto the scene wresting the US 1500m title from Centrowitz in a 3:35 best. He came 6th in 2021 in the Olympic Final in 3:31. After a 3:30 Trials win with a scintilating 52 second final circuit, his ceiling, like it was before Tokyo is still unknown.

Cheruiyot is back in the mix and nearly beat on his home turf in Oslo. It took a dive from Olympic champ at the line to keep his home record sterling.

6 men in the field have run under 3:30 and darn near everyone has the capacity to. If they’ve made it into the final, they have timed their peak to perfection and are the best in the world. Since 2017, everyone has known when and where this dogfight would happen. Since Ingebrigtsen was 16 years old- a budding 3:56 miler.

The whole world believes it will be fast. Not since 2016 has a world final played into the hands of pure kickers. The 1500m is an all-around game now, morphed by the players. It requires a full toolset and excellence in the command of them.

It is the ultimate game, the meeting ground of speed, strength and skill, and the athletes have stretched the event to captivating heights.

The minor battles have been fought over 3 years, but on Tuesday, the score will be settled.

220 years ago, Napoleon crowned himself at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, 5.5 miles from where the race will take place.

There will be one champion to reign for the coming 4 years, announcing his presence with a cold assertive stare, wide-eyed astonishment, or teeth-bearing yell to the 75,000 in the Stade de France.