This Week In Track & Field: Jakob Ingebrigtsen Is Back; Jonah Koech Gets Caught Blood Doping; Stroller Mile WR Tougher Than The Mile WR (?) + Highlights From U20s

Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia are back at it with Preet coming to us live from the European Championships media center in Birmingham.

Discussed in this episode:

– Jakob Ingebrigtsen wins the European 5K in 13:15: First race in 11 months following surgery on the sheath around his left Achilles in February. At one point he was three seconds off the front in what appeared to be a dangerously strung-out single-file race. Nobody made it hard for him — a tactical mistake by the field.

– What’s next for Jakob: He’s entered in the Silesia Diamond League (announced this morning). He’s also confirmed for the Zurich Diamond League, where he’ll face Cole Hocker and Isaac Nader. The World Ultimate Championship 1500m path has also been clarified.

– European Championships women’s 800m heats — possibly the fastest in major championships history. Keely Hodgkinson leads from the front in Heat 1, clocks 1:57.28 looking completely in control. Audrey Werro and Femke Bol also advance. Semis: August 13th. Final: Friday August 14th at 9:46 PM UK time.

– Other events to watch: Women’s 1500: Georgia Hunter Bell is the heavy favorite; Men’s 1500: Isaac Nader vs. Jake Wightman rematch; Men’s 800: Mark English has every European medal except gold; Men’s 10K: Gressier vs. Almgren + more.

– European Championships stadium attendance concerns?

– World Championships 2029 bids: Final bid presentations happening this Friday. Cities: London, Nairobi, Rome, Munich. Decision expected in September, possibly at the World Ultimate Championships.

– US Olympic Trials 2028 — six-day format: Documentation is now out.

– Jonah Koech — three-year ban for blood doping: USADA (not the AIU, notably) announced that Koech has accepted a three-year ban after his Athlete Biological Passport returned an adverse passport finding. He is stripped of his 2025 US 1500m national title. Ethan Strand is elevated to champion.

– Guardian Mile stroller mile world record — Steven Biebelhausen, 4:17.7: Set at the Guardian Mile in Cleveland on Saturday on the Memorial Bridge.

– U20 World Championships — top performances: Emmanuel Kiprono, 7:28 men’s 3K: Championship record. Missed Yomif Kejelcha’s U20 world record by 0.09 seconds; Tate Taylor, triple gold; Claire Stegall, women’s 1500m silver + more.

– Coming up: Full European Championships recap next week. Falmouth road race this weekend.

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