‘That’s my son!’: Brit pulls off ‘one of biggest upsets ever’ at world championships
British athlete Jake Wightman upstaged the Olympic champion in a huge upset in the 1500m final at the world championship.
Athletics
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Britain’s Jake Wightman has upstaged Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in a huge upset to win a thriller of a men’s 1500m at the World Athletics Championships.
Ingebrigtsen led at the bell for the final lap, but Wightman stuck with the pace and bolted with 200 metres to go, successfully holding off the Norwegian for victory in 3:29.23.
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Ingebrigtsen took silver in 3:29.47, with Spaniard Mohamed Katir claiming bronze with a time of 3:29.90.
Kenya’s Abel Kipsang shot to the front from the start, while Ingebrigtsen settled in five back with an outside line at Hayward Field.
With two laps to go, the Norwegian overtook Kipsang and reigning world champion Timothy Cheruiyot as the pack split into single file.
At the bell for the final lap, it was Ingebrigtesm, the two Kenyans and the British pair of Josh Kerr and Wightman who accelerated away.
Wightman played Ingebrigtsen at his own game and broke at the bend, pulling away into the home straight.
Ingebrigtsen tried to counter, but the Briton held on for a fantastic win, his father Geoff reduced to a cracked voice as he did the in-stadium commentary.
“That’s my son and he’s world champion,” an emotional Geoff told Hayward Field.
Jake Wightman is world 1500m champion.
— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) July 20, 2022
I repeat: Jake Wightman is world 1500m champion.
INCREDIBLE!
— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) July 20, 2022
Jake Wightman -- with his father/coach Geoff on the mic as the stadium announcer -- passes Jakob Ingebrigtsen with 200 to go and wins the 1500-meter world title in 3:29.23. What a race!
Jake Wightman - couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Astonishing run.
— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) July 20, 2022
And his dad @WightmanGeoff somehow manages to hold it together with a brilliant commentary call in the stadium.
"That's my son," he finally says. "And he's the World champion."#WorldAthleticsChamps
Incredible tale. Jake Wightman crowned 1500m world champion with dad Geoff providing the stadium commentary. Astonishing.
— Alex Spink (@alexspinkmirror) July 20, 2022
They got rid of the clock but that was one of the biggest upsets ever, right?? Jake Wightman! What a race
— Liam Boylan-Pett (@liam_bp) July 20, 2022
Originally published as ‘That’s my son!’: Brit pulls off ‘one of biggest upsets ever’ at world championships