Jakob Ingebrigtsen (23), Scottish World Cup winner Josh Kerr (26) and American record holder Jared Nogus (24) met in a pre-season press conference in Eugene on Friday night.
Kerr and Ingebrigtsen both answered questions about what the atmosphere was like between them after Kerr won world championship gold in Budapest last year. Since then, both sides have made critical comments about each other, but Friday was their first direct meeting since the World Cup.
– I didn't come here to spoil things. I'm here to run a great mile, and I hope it's an unforgettable ride. I'm here to try to be the best in the world, which I showed last year. Everyone wants to do what I do, notes Kerr when asked if the atmosphere between him and Ingebrigtsen could calm somewhat after the race.
-I don't care how much this race affects anyone but me. He adds that this is an individual sport.
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– Good for this sport
Ingebrigtsen smiled at the statement, but did not comment on the question Kerr was specifically asked.
-We are fierce competitors and we both want to be the best in the world. This will not change, regardless of the comments or how it is reported in the media. “It was about giving us some great runs,” Kerr says.
– If we take a step back and look at it, it's good for the sport. “I also think that all the things that make this get more attention are good for all of us,” Ingebrigtsen adds.
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The fact that profiles are coming together to compete already so early in the season has attracted some attention. Meetings between the biggest stars in athletics have not always been common, and perhaps not particularly so in running training.
Runner Noah Lyles of the USA recently said he didn't care about Ingebrigtsen and Kerr's delivery times, but stressed he would watch the race to see how strong the competition was.
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Vision
-I think it makes sense. It's not always about running fast. Sometimes we all do what we think is necessary and gives us the best chance of winning. Sometimes it's about running fast, and other times it's about something else, Ingebrigtsen points out.
– Racing excitement can't always be about fast times. This is a very good starting area. However, I think we should expect this starting field, or something similar, to be at the beginning, he continues.
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Ingebrigtsen believes that a strong starting field is something racers should try to ensure at all major races during a season.
– I hope we can do it every time. We need everyone to show up, and everyone to do their best in every race. Because that's what people want, and that's what makes it exciting, adds the running ghost from Sandness.
Rival Kerr has backed the views, and believes that he and Ingebrigtsen, among others, have helped create some of the shows that many have enjoyed over the past few years.
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