On 25 August 2024, at the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, a Diamond League meeting, Jakob Ingebringtsen will compete in the Silesian Stadium. The European record holder at 1500 metres will run twice the distance on this occasion. - Everyone knows the world record at 3000 is long in the tooth. So does his team, and the timing, right after the Olympics, is perfect for making an attack – stated meeting director Piotr Małachowski.
– How long did it take to persuade Jakob to come back to the Silesian Stadium? - that is a question that needs not be asked. - Before we started the talks for good, we already had a confirmation – Małachowski admitted.
After his spectacular performance at the „Kama” in 2023, Jakob Ingebrigtsen and his team knew that another visit at the Silesian stop on the Diamond League circuit is just a matter of time. It was in Poland, just before the trip to Budapest for the World Championships, that the in-form Norwegian set the current 1500 metres European record of 3:27.14. His feat was applauded by 30 thousand spectators, who proved the Polish fans come not only to see the Polish athletes and Armand Duplantis. In the opinion of many, Ingebrigtsen's athletic quality is not far below.
– The meeting is fantastic. I had heard a lot about it and probably that is why I decided to finally come to compete. Thank you, I felt comfortable here from beginning to end – said one of the heroes of last year's edition.
Like many others, Ingebrigtsen can count on a treatment adequate with his athletic exploits while in Poland. After all, he is the Olympic champion from Tokyo and a two-time world champion at 5000m, from Eugene and Budapest. Up to now, while is yet to turn 24, he has accumulated 11 European titles at various distances. That is why, when he came in 2023 and asked for three pacemakers, giving specific names, no one had problems with making his road towards the continental record smoother. The organisers remember perfectly the look on his face when the person meeting him at the airport turned out to be his ex-rival Marcin Lewandowski.
– He was shocked. But I believe these are nice little things. For someone like that it was worth the ride. We reminisced, we had a conversation, I answered his essential questions. And then he ran like a rocket - „Lewy” recounted, laughing.
– He is a genius. I would love to run the way he does. I am a great fan! He runs with ease and he has a gift, which he uses well – those compliments came from Sofia Ennaoui on the „Lekka Gadka” („Athletic talk”) programme on the Memorial's YouTube channel. - You cannot fail to have respect for him as an athlete. His style, with courage, intransigence and coolness, attracts audiences – Lewandowski added in the recording, agreeing that as a character Jakob is one of the greatest magnets in present-day sport.
This year's appearance by Ingebrigtsen in Silesia will be different. First and foremost, the Norwegian recently became a father, which changes every man's life. Secondly, the competition will take place not before, but after the prime event of the year. And that will be not the World Championships, but the Olympic Games.
– It is sports and you cannot hang medals on anyone's neck before the competition. However, if he does take them in Paris, the value of the athlete on our startlist will only go up. And you do not have to persuade anyone he has a good chance – said the excited Marek Plawgo, the meeting's communications director.
The most significant change, however, is the distance Jakob will be running in the Witches' Cauldron this time – not 1500m, but twice as long.
– Is it wrong he will not make a showing in his prime event? Not in the least. 3000m will give us a double serving of Ingebrigtsen – Małachowski said with a wink, adding – by the way, perhaps we are going to see a world record.
Ingebrigtsen is already the European record holder, since he ran a great time of 7:23.63 at Diamond League final in Eugene last autumn, making him the third fastest of all time. The talk coming from his camp suggests the star runner still has something to prove. Ringing in his ear is the name of Daniel Komen, the Kenyan who was timed in 7:20.67 in Rieti in 1996. Even the mighty Hicham El Guerrouj was not able to take down the mark.
The 2024 Diamond League in the Silesian Stadium will be the 15th edition of the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial – the biggest and most prestigious athletics meeting in this part of Europe. The list of confirmed participants for 25 August includes the pole vaulting genius Armand Duplantis and the hurdler Femke Bol. Both are current world record holders. The list of top stars with whom the organisers are in talks is much longer. Predictably, the competition will feature the top Polish athletes, notably the national 400m record holder Natalia Kaczmarek and the World Indoor Championships medalist Ewa Swoboda.
Tickets to the event can be ordered on the eBilet.pl website. The competition will start at 2 PM.
