PARIS, AUG 2: Reigning Olympic gold medallist Jakob Ingebrigtsen and world champion Josh Kerr kept on track to resume their rivalry after sailing through qualification for the semi-finals of the men's 1500m on Friday.
Ingebrigtsen will be pinning his hopes on there being no repeat of the last two world championship finals.
In Eugene in 2022 and then in Budapest last year, the Norwegian was beaten down the home stretch by Britons, respectively Jake Wightman and Kerr.
Wightman is out of the Olympics with an injury, leaving Kerr to have Ingebrigtsen in his crosshairs even though their head-to-head record in 1500m finals stands at 8-1 in favour of the Norwegian.
It was Kerr who beat Ingebrigtsen the last time they clashed in the mile at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene in May. Since then, Ingebrigtsen has been unbeaten, winning the Diamond League 1500m on home soil in Oslo, European 1500m and 5000m titles in Rome, a Norwegian championships double, and that 1500m in Monaco. —AFP
