MUNICH (VG) Jakob Ingebrigtsen (21) is the big favorite to win EC gold in 1500 meters. During Monday’s heat test, the Norwegian advanced comfortably to the final.

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The 21-year-old racer ran first across the finish line with a time of 3:38,48. Ismael Debjani of Belgium was second in 3:38.96.

– It’s fun, I have to admit. It’s something that top athletes have in mind. Even if everything feels good in practice, you start to hesitate a little when nervousness kicks in before you start. It’s a relief and coping, Ingebrigtsen told NRK.

While the field struggled for position in front, Ingebrigtsen stayed well behind at first and conserved his energy. After about 1000 meters he started to pass them one by one. In the end, Ingebrigtsen was in first place comfortably.

– I got it really cheap, the runner Sandnes told the rest of the Norwegian press after the test, clearly in a hurry and wanting to start his recovery.

Already on Tuesday, the 5,000-meter final awaits Ingebrigtsen – ridden by brother Henrik from St. Moritz in the Swiss Alps on Monday morning and arrived in the European Championship city at 2:30 p.m., hours before the heat test.

– This is a time of uncertainty. How would he feel in that endeavor. We had a discussion, and calculated that he would feel a little heavier than usual, Henrik’s brother told VG.

He considered it was not optimal if Monday’s competition came to Munich on the same day.

– But now it will only get better by the day. “I think even a runner at training level will try to avoid four and a half hours by car on the same day,” says Henrik Ingebrigtsen.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen caused quite a stir with this maneuver in the toilet.

Agent and manager Daniel Wessfeldt also watched the heated match from the VIP stands at the Olympic Stadium.

– Everything else is extra. He does what he likes. It was clear that he was going to achieve something big here. When he lay down at the end, it was as if he wanted to test himself a bit, Wessfeldt told VG.

– He’s like a horse. 3.38 in an attempt really says it all. “It will be interesting to see what happens in the final,” said Wessfeldt.

Ferdinand Kvan Edman (29) ran in the second heat trial. He failed to qualify for Tuesday’s final.

Ingebrigtsen boss of the WC in Eugene, England Jake Wightman (28), does not participate in the 1500 meters in the EC. He prefers to focus on 800 meters.

– Now he (Jakob) might get a little revenge. He may be a little sad that he didn’t meet Wightman and a few others, but he has to beat those who show up, father and former coach Gjert Ingebrigtsen told NRK shortly before the test.

After World Cup silverware in the US, Ingebrigtsen was clear he should have won.

– The silver toilet is a very big thing to achieve. At the same time, I was beaten by people who were worse than me. I’m disappointed in myself, the Norwegian told NRK.

Wightman was confronted with this statement ahead of the EC.

– That’s not the best thing to say, I want to say it first. At the time, I didn’t care. If he thinks I’m a worse player, that’s probably true for most of the year. But one night in Eugene, I didn’t, and that’s what matters to me. “Comments like that don’t really bother me,” Wightman said

Ingebrigtsen won EC gold in the 1500 meters and 5,000 meters in Berlin in 2018. In 2020, the championship in Paris was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. That’s why the Norwegian is still the reigning European champion in long-distance.

• The final in 1500 meters takes place on Thursday at 21.05. This is shown on the NRK.