– He looks a bit untouched. It looks so easy when Jakob does it here, says NRK track and field expert Vebjørn Rodal.

Ingebrigtsen was in control from start to finish during the Diamond League event in Lausanne and cruised to victory with a time of 3:28.72. There were no world or European records this time around, but the 22-year-old set an event record in Switzerland.

Still, he wasn’t completely satisfied.

– Kinda cool even though it’s not my best day, I managed to win easily. I felt in good control and did a good job, Ingebrigtsen told NRK.

– It started pretty well and I’m feeling good, but I can feel my legs working out from St Moritz. It was a bit tough in the last 600-700 meters, but the response was good, even if it wasn’t my best day, he added.

Scare shot

The previous competition, the Bislett Games on June 15, produced a European record. This time it was 77 hundredths away. Still, it was the fourth fastest run of his career. And Ingebrigtsen’s next statement should worry competitors.

Because when asked what Ingebrigtsen’s lower level really was, he replied:

– That’s 3.28, then.

Even the world record holder of the 3000 meter steeplechase Lamecha Girma could not catch up with Ingebrigtsen. He finished in 2nd place, and saw Ingebrigtsen easily sail away from the race. Because when the 22-year-old from Sandnes picks up his speed, no one else can keep up.

And Ingebrigtsen himself believed he had a bad day. But the smile is still there.

Target Poland

While the European record holder himself took it all with crushing calm, NRK commentator Jann Post once again amazed himself.

– He’s not breathing. He’s not breathing! I’ve rarely seen someone running 3.28 without a hitch, Post said from the commentator’s stand.

Ingebrigtsen himself is targeting a convention in Poland in two weeks. He himself has hinted that things will go very fast there, and is now trying to build a pinnacle in that direction. The competition in Silesa took place on 16 July.

– Even if you try your hardest, there’s no guarantee that you’ll succeed, but the plan for a good time is there. So we had to go back to St. Moritz to practice, said Ingebrigtsen.

Ingebrigtsen is chasing Hicham El Guerreouj’s Moroccan world record of 3.26 nil. Established since 1998.

This training has clearly paid off, as there have been three records in his last three attempts: This June evening, an event record was set in Lausanne. Two weeks ago, the European record came in Oslo, while in Paris he set a world record two British miles (3218 meters).

– I accelerated pretty well today, you have to do that to win races. It feels good and I get a lot of good feedback even though I do a lot of threshold and non-specific training. It’s responded well and it shows that I’ve made strides this year, said Ingebrigtsen.