PARIS (Nettavisen): There were two runners full of confidence who walked through the interview zone at Stade de France on Friday morning.
Both Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen got exactly what they wanted and made it through to the semifinals in the 1500 meters from their respective heats in a controlled manner.
In the interview zone, it didn’t take long before the two rivals had to answer questions about each other.
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At Thursday’s press conference, Ingebrigtsen did not dampen the rivalry when he stated that Kerr would be remembered as the Brit who never shows up.
After Friday’s heats, Kerr was confronted with the Norwegian’s remarks.
– I heard it, he says with a sly smile.
The Scot explains that he is more focused on defining his own career when it is over.
– I think I’m just at the start of my career. Hopefully, there will be medals, fast times, and good duels.
– Everyone can have their opinion. I absolutely have no problem with that. I hope to be remembered as something a little different than that, says the Scot about Ingebrigtsen’s latest jab.
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Ingebrigtsen with new jabs
Ingebrigtsen, however, was far less diplomatic when NRK wanted to know how he viewed a possible new duel against Kerr in the semifinals.
– We’ll see. I expect nothing. Extremely low expectations. First, we’ll see if he makes it back to the hotel and if he makes it back to the start next time. Nobody knows.
– You don’t feel very secure about him?
– I feel very secure about him, but I don’t think he feels very secure about himself, says Ingebrigtsen.
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Warning: – I’m definitely faster than last year
However, there were few signs of a lack of confidence from Kerr on Friday.
– My goal right now was just to stay relaxed and trust my own form. I think I did that today, says Kerr about the heats.
He further explains that he has received the answers he wants and is ready to push on.
– I’m exactly where I need to be, says Kerr, before he issues a warning.
– I am definitely better than last year, and we will see that, says the Brit.
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Last season, Kerr won the 1500 meters at the World Championships in Budapest in front of a sick Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
Now the Norwegian is experiencing that he has had a good start to the Olympics.
– When I line up to start, I always try to run as good races as I can. I never know what will happen when we approach the finish. Who has a lot of energy left, who doesn’t have a lot of energy left.
– Of course, there’s a somewhat relieved feeling when I’m let loose and can start to push a bit. And then I gain quite a few places pretty easily. You feel a bit relieved by that, he says to Nettavisen after the heats.
On Sunday, the semifinals for the 1500 meters take place, before it all concludes with the finals on Tuesday.
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