Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Lamecha Girma set for fast 1500m at Athletissima 2023

The Wanda Diamond League in Lausanne this Friday (30) is set to host a thrilling men’s 1500m race, featuring none other than the Olympic champion, Jakob Ingebrigtsen. The 22-year-old Norwegian, who ran a world indoor 1500m record-breaking of 3:30.60 last year, will compete against Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma in what promises to be a fascinating showdown at the Athletissima 2023.

Earlier this month, both Ingebrigtsen and Girma etched their names in the annals of history in Paris. The Norway star set a new world two-mile record, while the Ethiopian shattered the world 3000m steeplechase record. The upcoming race in Lausanne will be the first time these two athletes will compete head-to-head in any event.

READ ALSO: Start lists for the 2023 Athletissima Lausanne Diamond League

Ingebrigtsen, who recently bettered his own European 1500m record to 3:27.95 in Oslo, is eager for the chance to challenge the world record of 3:26.00, a feat achieved by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj nearly a quarter-century ago.

Girma, meanwhile, has his sights set on surpassing his personal best of 3:33.15, recorded at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Ostrava on June 27. He had earlier shaved 1.52 seconds off the world 3000m steeplechase record, previously held by Said Saeed Shaheen since 2004.

More Than Just Ingebrigtsen and Girma At Athletissima 2023

The race won’t just be a two-man show, however. Ingebrigtsen will also be up against other formidable competitors, including Britain’s Olympic bronze medallist Josh Kerr and Australia’s Stewart McSweyn, a world and Olympic finalist who have previously broken the 3:30 barrier in their best form.

The roster is further bolstered by the likes of Ethiopia’s Teddese Lemi, New Zealand’s Sam Tanner, Britain’s Neil Gourley, and France’s Julian Ranc.

Ingebrigtsen, who added a world gold in the 5000m to his 1500m silver last year, is optimistic about his chances in the upcoming race.

He confidently declared, “I 100% have more left in me. I just have to keep focused on each race ahead in the build-up to Budapest (World Championships), where it really matters.”

Check out the starting list below:

1500m:

• Stewart McSweyn (Australia) – SB: 3:29.51, PB: 3:29.51
• Lamecha Girma (Ethiopia) – SB: 3:33.15, PB: 3:33.15
• Teddese Lemi (Ethiopia) – SB: 3:32.24, PB: 3:31.90
• Mounir Akbache (France) – SB: N/A, PB: 3:39.81
• Julian Ranc (France) – SB: 3:33.90, PB: 3:33.90
• Elliot Giles (Great Britain) – SB: 3:33.57, PB: 3:33.56
• Neil Gourley (Great Britain) – SB: 3:30.88, PB: 3:30.88
• Josh Kerr (Great Britain) – SB: 3:30.07, PB: 3:29.05
• Luke McCann (Ireland) – SB: 3:34.76, PB: 3:34.76
• Pietro Arese (Italy) – SB: 3:33.56, PB: 3:33.56
• Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) – SB: 3:27.95, PB: 3:27.95
• Samuel Tanner (New Zealand) – SB: 3:33.15, PB: 3:31.34
• Tom Elmer (Switzerland) – SB: 3:35.62, PB: 3:35.62
• Erik Sowinski (USA) – SB: N/A, PB: 3:44.82

For more information about Lausanne 2023, please visit here