Jakob Ingebrigtsen just did something that is bound to make the world of middle-distance running sit up and take notice: he broke the indoor mile world record. This time, he topped Yared Nuguse’s freshly set record of 3:46.63, which only stood for a mere five days.
Nuguse’s record was an incredible feat in its own right.
Just five days earlier, on February 8, 2025, at the Millrose Games in New York City, the 24-year-old American ran 3:46.63 to break Yomif Kejelcha’s 2019 record of 3:47.01, becoming the first man to break 3:47 indoors. To add to that, Nuguse also set an American indoor 1500m record with a 3:31.74 split.
It was a historic run, and many thought it might stand for a while, but Ingebrigtsen had other plans.
Ingebrigtsen stormed to a 3:45.14 in Lievin, France, smashing Nuguse’s record by over a second, and he wasn’t done there. The Norwegian also blazed through a 1500m split of 3:29.63, becoming the first man ever to break 3:30 indoors for that distance.
A two-for-one special of world records? Now that’s how you do it.
What’s most impressive about Ingebrigtsen’s performance is how effortless it all looked.
Of course, we know that nothing truly great happens without hard work behind the scenes.
But Ingebrigtsen made it seem almost routine: perfect pacing, efficient running, and a smooth surge to the finish. His pace was so metronomic it was almost hypnotic. Thanks to the Wavelight system (basically a digital pacing partner), he hit each 100m split with ruthless precision, never deviating from his plan.
For those who like a little detail, his splits were flawless, ranging from 13.84 to 14.18 seconds per 100m for most of the race. It wasn’t until the final lap that he kicked up the pace, closing out the last 400m in 55.49 seconds and taking the final 109m (it’s the mile, don’t forget) in a blistering 15.51 seconds (14.23 for 100m).
Ingebrigtsen’s 100m splits:
- 14.15
- 14.07 (28.22)
- 14.13
- 14.04 (28.17)
- 13.90
- 14.18 (28.28)
- 14.03
- 14.05 (28.08)
- 13.88
- 14.06 (27.94)
- 14.03
- 13.87 (27.90)
- 13.84
- 13.84 (27.68)
- 13.56
- 15.51 (29.07, 109m)
But don’t be fooled by how smooth it all seemed. Ingebrigtsen himself admitted it was grueling, describing the race as “very hard” and emphasizing how focused he had to stay throughout.
Ingebrigtsen’s victory lap came with a signature display of confidence. In his post-race Instagram, he cheekily posted, “Sorry @yaredthegoose! Looking forward to race you. Best, Jakgoat.”
Below are the splits for Nuguse’s 3:46.63 world record at Millrose and Ingebrigtsen’s 3:45.14:
| Nuguse | Ingebrigtsen | |
| 200 | 28.09 | 28.22 |
| 400 | 57.03 (28.94) | 56.39 (28.17) |
| 600 | 1:24.81 (27.78) | 1:24.47 (28.28) |
| 800 | 1:52.63 (27.82) | 1:52.55 (28.08) |
| 1000 | 2:20.68 (28.05) | 2:20.49 (27.94) |
| 1200 | 2:49.27 (28.59) | 2:48.39 (27.92) |
| 1400 | 3:17.96 (28.69) | 3:16.07 (27.68) |
| Mile | 3:46.63 (28.67) | 3:45.14 (29.07) |
And it’s no surprise he’s feeling confident. With six world records now under his belt (and counting), including two indoor 1500m marks, Ingebrigtsen is a force to be reckoned with. As for Nuguse, he might not have held on to his world record for long, but one thing’s for sure: this rivalry is only getting started.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s world records:
| Date | Location | Event | Time |
| February 17, 2022 | Lievin | Indoor 1500 | 3:30.60 |
| June 9, 2023 | Paris | 2 miles | 7:54.10 |
| September 8, 2023 | Brussels | 2000m | 4:43.13 |
| August 25, 2024 | Chorzow | 3000m | 7:17.55 |
| February 13, 2025 | Lievin | Indoor 1500 | 3:29.63 |
| February 13, 2025 | Lievin | Indoor mile | 3:45.14 |
Ingebrigtsen’s next big target? The outdoor 1500m and mile world records, which have been held by Hicham El Guerrouj for years. If his early season form is any indication, 2025 could be the year those legendary marks fall.
