Jakob Ingebrigtsen claims he would have beaten Josh Kerr's two-mile world record blindfolded

ATHLETICS Jakob Ingebrigtsen claims he would have beaten Josh Kerr's two-mile world record blindfolded

Abigael Wafula 16:13 - 16.02.2024

Jakob Ingebrigtsen has come after Josh Kerr after he broke the indoor two-mile world record and noted that he would have beaten the Scottish runner in blindfolds.

Two-time World 5000m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen believes he could have easily beaten Josh Kerr at the 2024 Millrose Games where the Scottish runner set a new world record over the indoor two-mile distance.

He lowered the world record by nearly three seconds but Ingebrigtsen insisted that he would have beaten him even if he was in blindfolds.

Kerr’s record-breaking return to the track garnered widespread praise, except from track rival Ingebrigtsen who made light work of Kerr’s effort.

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In an interview with Norway’s TV2, Ingebrigtsen was asked about Kerr’s new world record and he said: “It is very positive for me that my competitors are getting better. Then I don’t have to run alone.”

The World 1500m silver medallist who holds the outdoor two-mile world record is not acknowledging Kerr’s performance.

“It is not certain that he runs any better now than last year at the same time; he did not run two miles then.

“I would have beaten him in that race, blindfolded… But it’s good that people run better than they have done before,” Ingebrigtsen said.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian has not competed since the 2023 Diamond League Meeting Final in mid-September due to a nagging Achilles injury. His injury began when he took time off from running for his wedding and honeymoon in the Maldives.

However, when he resumed training, the challenges continued and he had to take time off training. This injury will keep him out of both the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow and the World Cross-country Championships in Belgrade in March.

Ingebrigtsen is back in training and will make his season debut at the Prefontaine Classic in late May or at the Bislett Games in Oslo in early June.

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