Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s 2024 track and field season has been a rollercoaster of triumphs and stumbles. In Paris, he faced a surprising setback, finishing fourth in the 1500m when many expected a gold-medal duel between him and Josh Kerr. Kerr snagged silver, while the gold went to USA’s Cole Hocker. But Ingebrigtsen didn’t let that hiccup derail him—he bounced back in the 5000m with a gold medal, and now he’s back in form, tearing up the Diamond League.

After the Olympics, Ingebrigtsen struck back at Lausanne, besting Cole Hocker in a satisfying revenge match. He then made history at the Silesia Diamond League, smashing the 3000m world record with a time of 7:17.55. This record had been held by Kenya’s Daniel Komen since 1996, making it the longest-standing track record until now. After a second-place finish at the Zurich Diamond League, Ingebrigtsen is gearing up for a 1500m rematch with Josh Kerr at the Diamond League finals. But Ingebrigtsen isn’t stopping there!

According to Citius Mag’s X post, rumors are swirling that he’s set to run his first half marathon at the Copenhagen Half Marathon on September 15. That’s right—he’s planning to jump from the Diamond League final straight into a half marathon with barely any rest. And if the rumors are true, he might be gunning for the half marathon world record, currently held by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo at 57:31, set in Lisbon in 2021.

It’s a tall order, especially considering Josh Kerr’s debut half-marathon time of 61:51 in San Diego last December. But if anyone can shake up the long-distance world, it’s Ingebrigtsen. With his track record of turning challenges into victories, could he be the one to break that 58-minute barrier?

Predicting Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s chances in the half marathon is no easy task. With his impressive credentials—a personal best of 12:48.45 in the men’s 5000 meters, the fourth fastest in the 1500m with 3:26.73, and the fastest in the 3000m—he’s certainly got the chops for a strong half-marathon performance. Breaking the record might seem like a tall order, but it’s definitely within the realm of possibility, says a track and field enthusiast and coach!

Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s chances of breaking the world record in the half marathon

During a December podcast episode on LetsRun.com, Robert Johnson, the assistant coach for Cornell’s men’s cross country and track and field teams and co-founder of LetsRun.com, discussed Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s potential in the half marathon, especially in the wake of Josh Kerr’s San Diego debut. Johnson suggested that Ingebrigtsen could make waves with a stunning 55:59 time.

While he admitted this might sound a bit ambitious, he explained his reasoning: “Ryan Hall ran 59:43. Come on, Jakob is better than that. Let’s give him 59 flat. Old shoes give him another minute for the shoes we’re now at 58 flat. This course (San Diego) is like 700 feet downhill. That’s like two minutes, so we’re at 56 flat. Then we give an extra second just for history. I do think he can run 56.”

It’s a fascinating perspective, proposing that Ingebrigtsen could potentially run a 56-minute half marathon in San Diego. However, the conditions in Copenhagen might be different, making that record-breaking run a bit more challenging. Nonetheless, if he brings his A-game to Copenhagen, he could add another world record to his collection.

Before that, though, Ingebrigtsen faces a significant challenge at the Brussels Diamond League final. Although Josh Kerr won’t be competing, Ingebrigtsen will need to fend off strong competitors like Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse, who recently triumphed at the Zurich Diamond League. Ingebrigtsen himself admitted he wasn’t at his best in Zurich, so he’ll need to deliver a stellar performance in Brussels to solidify his reputation as the top contender in the 1500m. With such an exhilarating season ahead, what are your thoughts on Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s long-distance ambitions? Share your thoughts in the comments below!