Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s title bid in the men’s 1500m came to a shocking end on Sunday morning after the Norwegian failed to qualify from the heats at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The reigning Olympic 5000m champion, who has battled an Achilles injury all season, faded to finish outside the qualifying places, continuing a frustrating year disrupted by fitness setbacks.
In contrast, his long-time rival and defending world champion Josh Kerr comfortably advanced to Monday’s semi-finals with a commanding run, while Kenya’s representatives Timothy Cheruiyot and Reynold Cheruiyot also booked their places with strong performances in their respective heats. Reynold clocked 3:41.17 for fourth in Heat 2, while 2019 world champion Timothy came through Heat 3 in 3:42.20 for another fourth-place finish.
Full Men’s 1500m Round 1 Results (Top 6 in each heat qualified)
Heat 1:
- Narve Gilje Nordås (NOR) – 3:35.90 Q
- Josh Kerr (GBR) – 3:35.98 Q
- Ethan Strand (USA) – 3:36.27 Q
- Federico Riva (ITA) – 3:36.28 Q
- Stefan Nillessen (NED) – 3:36.28 Q
- Tshepo Tshite (RSA) – 3:36.36 Q
Heat 2:
- Isaac Nader (POR) – 3:40.91 Q
- Pietro Arese (ITA) – 3:40.91 Q
- Niels Laros (NED) – 3:41.00 Q
- Reynold Cheruiyot (KEN) – 3:41.17 Q
- Ruben Verheyden (BEL) – 3:41.45 Q
- Foster Malleck (CAN) – 3:41.53 Q
Heat 3:
- Cole Hocker (USA) – 3:41.88 Q
- Robert Farken (GER) – 3:42.06 Q
- Neil Gourley (GBR) – 3:42.13 Q
- Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) – 3:42.20 Q
- Adrián Ben (ESP) – 3:42.27 Q
- Raphael Pallitsch (AUT) – 3:42.40 Q
Heat 4:
- Jake Wightman (GBR) – 3:36.90 Q
- José Carlos Pinto (POR) – 3:37.09 Q
- Jonah Koech (USA) – 3:37.11 Q
- Romain Mornet (FRA) – 3:37.19 Q
- Samuel Pihlström (SWE) – 3:37.25 Q
- Andrew Coscoran (IRL) – 3:37.32 Q
Among the notable casualties was Ingebrigtsen, who clocked 3:37.84 in Heat 4 for eighth place, well outside the automatic qualifying spots. France’s Azeddine Habz, the world leader this year, also failed to progress, as did Kenya’s Phanuel Koech, who entered the championships as the second-fastest in 2025.
The men’s 1500m semi-finals are scheduled for Monday, with the final set for Wednesday at Tokyo’s Japan National Stadium.
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