At a press conference the day before the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, three milers—Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, and Yared Nuguse Health - Injuries.
When Nuguse was asked if he had his eye on the American record—3:46.91, set by Alan Webb in 2007—Ingebrigtsen interjected to offer his advice to Nuguse:
“Stick with me,” he said.
That’s exactly what happened. Once the second of two pacesetters stepped off the track, Ingebrigtsen led the rest of the race and won in 3:43.73, becoming the third-fastest miler in history.
“A very good race, a very good time,” Ingebrigtsen said after the race. “But there’s definitely some things possible to improve.”
Nuguse, who swung wide on the final stretch and almost drew even with Ingebrigtsen, took almost three seconds off of Webb’s mark, running 3:43.97.
“End of the season, amazing race, amazing time, everything,” Nuguse said.
The world record of 3:43.13, held by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco, dates back to a race in Rome in July 1999. Noah Ngeny of Kenya ran 3:43.40 in the same race.
Ingebrigtsen brushed off suggestions that he just missed the world record. “No, it’s not ‘just,’” he said. “It’s quite a margin.”
Still, since El Guerrouj and Ngeny, no other men have ever broken 3:44—and it took 24 years for it to happen again. Now two more men are on sub-3:44 list: Ingebrigtsen and Nuguse.
Almost immediately, the two separated themselves from the field of world class runners behind them. By 600 meters into the race, there was daylight between Nuguse and Abel Kipsang of Kenya, who was 0.4 seconds behind. At 800 meters, which Ingebrigtsen passed in 1:52.0, and Nuguse, tucked in behind, ran in 1:52.2, their lead was almost a full second. At 1200 meters, almost 2 seconds separated the two leaders and the chase pack.
At the finish, George Mills of Great Britain was third in 3:47.65, Mario Garcia Romo of Spain (and one of Nuguse’s roommates in Boulder, Colorado) was fourth in 3:47.69, and Reynold Cheruiyot of Kenya was fifth in 3:48.06. Hocker was sixth in 3:48.08, taking almost 3 seconds of his personal best. The top eight finishers all ran PRs.
Both Ingebrigtsen and Nuguse have had superlative years. Ingebrigtsen, 22, has lost only once all year outdoors, at the World Championships in the 1500 meters, where he finished second, while competing with a slight illness. He won the gold medal in the 5,000 meters a few days later at Worlds. He also set two world records this season, in the 2,000 meters and two miles, and a slew of personal bests, including 3:27.14 for 1500 meters.
Nuguse, 24, set three American records indoors and now has his fourth of the year. He also won the 1500 meters twice on the Diamond League circuit and finished fifth at the World Championships.
He’s one of the more popular American athletes, who comes off as a goofy nerd happy to poke fun at himself. He plans to go to dental school when he’s done with track. His competitors and coaches were thrilled with his race.
Races - Places.
Hocker said he wished he were closer to the leaders, but “I’m happy for him, definitely,” he said of Nuguse. “He’s turned it up a notch this year.”
Dathan Ritzenhein, Nuguse’s coach with the On Athletics Club in Boulder, said he knew something big was in store. Did he see that coming?
“Yes, maybe, not, I don’t know, it was just amazing,” Ritzenhein said. “He’s looked incredible ever since Budapest. He’s the chillest guy, but he’ll say, ‘Aaah, I was so close [to a medal],’ so he’s had that fire the last couple of weeks, you could tell. I said he could break 3:45. I didn’t think he’d break 3:44. Pretty awesome.”
Nuguse told reporters he wasn’t nervous before the race, but his roommate, Garcia Romo, said Nuguse admitted to some prerace jitters. When confronted with the contradictory stories, Nuguse confessed.
“When I said nervous to him, I said that in confidence,” he said, with a big laugh.
It’s all fun now that he has yet another American record.
Yared Nuguse Shatters American Record in the Mile is a writer and editor living in Eugene, Oregon, and her stories about the sport, its trends, and fascinating individuals have appeared in Runner’s World Eliud Kipchoge: 6th at London, Run Your Butt Off! and Walk Your Butt Off!
