Olympic bronze medalist Yared Nuguse delivered a surprise upset at the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday, triumphing over Europe’s elite 1500m runners, Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr.
Nuguse crossed the finish line in a time of 3:29.21, narrowly beating the Norwegian Ingebrigtsen, who recently set a world record in the 3000 meters. Ingebrigtsen finished second in 3:29.52.
Fellow American Cole Hocker also had a strong showing, placing third with a time of 3:30.46. Josh Kerr, the Paris Olympics silver medalist, found himself in unfamiliar territory, finishing fifth in 3:31.46, just behind the Netherlands’ Niels Laros, who secured fourth.
The Kenyan trio of Ronald Cheruiyot, Timothy Cheruiyot, and Boaz Kiprugut experienced a challenging race, finishing in sixth, eleventh, and fourteenth place, respectively, rounding off a disappointing night for the East African contingent.
Nuguse’s victory marks a significant moment in the 1500m scene, as he becomes the second American in recent memory to best the European pair, signaling a shift in the rivalry heading into the next season.
More updates to follow…
