Canadian runner Philibert-Thiboutot qualifies for Paris 2024 in Diamond League season debut
Runs 21-100ths of a second under 1,500m standard; Ingebrigtsen in record form
Much-needed rest is now top priority for Charles Philibert-Thiboutot after securing the men's Olympic 1,500-metre qualifying standard.
The Canadian runner made his Diamond League season debut Sunday in Silesia, Poland and clocked 3:33.29 to gain automatic entry to the 2024 Paris Summer Games by 21-100ths of a second in his first attempt.
"I didn't sleep at all before my race," Philibert-Thiboutot, who placed 12th of 14 finishers, told CBC Sports. "Training has been going well lately, but even in Vancouver last week I was carrying some fatigue from my [recent] trip to Europe, and another trip [this week] from the West Coast felt deadly."
He flew to Frankfurt last Wednesday in hopes of getting acclimated to the nine-hour time change before travelling to Poland on Friday.
The Quebec City native is on the waiting list for the London Athletics Meet next Sunday but will decline a potential invite and return to B.C.
Philibert-Thiboutot noted it's imperative he get rest ahead of the July 27-30 Canadian track and field championships in Langley, B.C. and the World Athletics Championships, which run Aug. 19-27 in Budapest, Hungary.
On June 10, he ran 3:33.54 in Montesson, France to meet the 3:34.20 world standard and end an eight-year drought between personal-best times. Eight days later, he lowered his PB to 3:32.94 in Nancy, France, 13 days before the Olympic qualifying window opened.
"I think I have what it takes to contend with the 3:30-3:31 guys," the 32-year-said, "but I need to be rested a bit more."
Over the years, Philibert-Thiboutot's PB attempts were disrupted at various times by the following injuries: Stress fracture in his right foot, a left Achilles problem, lower back issues, torn left calf and a sciatic nerve problem.
The four-time Canadian champion also encountered bad luck with race conditions not on his side, whether it was poor weather or getting bodied, tripped and not being able to find a rhythm, as was the case last month racing at the Portland Track Festival.
Ingebrigtsen sends warning shot to rivals
"The years between 2017 and 2020 when the injuries were major, you're wondering if you'll ever be able to perform again [on the track]," said Philibert-Thiboutot, who didn't qualify for the 1,500 final at the 2016 Rio Olympics, placing 16th (3:40.79). "To move forward, and this is something I worked on with a sports psychologist in 2021 and 2022, I can't carry the negative emotions of the injuries forever. I got rid of them in 2022 and I'm a totally new athlete."
Reigning Olympic 1,500 champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway won Sunday's event in a 3:27.14 PB for a European record and lowered his season world-leading time from 3:27.95.
The 22-year-old followed the field until the final lap, when he sprinted clear, beating the previous record by 0.81 seconds set last month at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway and sending a warning shot to rivals ahead of worlds.
"Today I wanted a fast race and I wanted to run another sub-3:28. I knew if I could do that, there was a big risk of setting another PB," said Ingebrigtsen, who is unbeaten in 10 races this season. "The pacemakers helped a lot today, especially with Stewart McSweyn taking over on the third lap. It is not every day that you get one of the best runners in the world to help you run fast. This result was the best I could hope for today."
He fell short of the 3:26.00 world record by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj 25 years ago in Rome.
"You cannot always think about records. Today I wanted one, but I will now be focusing completely on getting ready for the world championships," he said.
Abel Kipsang was second in a 3:29.11 PB followed by Kenyan teammate Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot (3:30.30), also a PB.
“When the pacemakers drop out, I am the pacemaker.” <br><br>An incredible interview with Jakob Ingebrigtsen on his mindset and thoughts ahead of <a href="https://twitter.com/wabudapest23?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wabudapest23</a> after lowering his own European 1500m record 💬<br><br>He clocked 3:27.14 at the Silesia Diamond League 🔥<br><br>📹 <a href="https://twitter.com/Diamond_League?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Diamond_League</a> <a href="https://t.co/lxvsMugC0d">pic.twitter.com/lxvsMugC0d</a>
—@AthleticsWeeklySimbine hands Kerley 1st loss of season
Akani Simbine of South Africa grabbed his second Diamond League 100 win in a row, clocking 9.97, with the first four separated by just 0.02. American Fred Kerley took second place, experiencing his first defeat of the season.
"I know I am the first to beat Fred this year, we have a good friendship, a good rivalry. I am very satisfied with my performance and hope to continue my good form," Simbine said.
WATCH | Simbine collects 2nd consecutive victory over 100 metres:
Kerley appeared unaffected by the loss.
"I feel good about today's race. Nothing was missing. I got my job done," he said from the 14th Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, a meet dedicated to the memory of the late hammer thrower.
American Sha'Carri Richardson won the women's 100 in 10.76, edging Jamaica's Shericka Jackson by 0.02 seconds to secure her second Diamond League victory of the year in the event.
"I love the time. I put a great race together. This was a great competition, it was amazing. I executed correctly," Richardson said.
WATCH | Richardson holds off rival Jackson to take women's 100:
Elsewhere:
- Yulimar Rojas from Venezuela set a new world lead of 15.18 metres to win the women's triple jump.
- Poland's Natalia Kaczmarek gave the home crowd something to cheer when she comfortably won the women's 400 with a personal best time of 49.48.
- Favourite and world record-holder Armand Duplantis cleared 6.01 metres to win the men's pole vault ahead of American Sam Kendricks.
Arop inching closer to Canadian mark
The next Diamond League stop is next Friday in Monaco, where Marco Arop and Moh Ahmed are scheduled to run for Canada in the 800 and 5,000, respectively.
Arop, the world No.1 in his event, ran a 1:43.30 SB for second place on June 9 at the Meeting de Paris Diamond League competition, only 10-100ths of a second off Brandon McBride's Canadian record.
Arop, the reigning national champion, had a trio of top-three finishes on the professional track and field circuit in 2022.
Ahmed, who became Canada's first Olympic medallist in the 5,000 with silver in Tokyo in 2021, hasn't raced since a 12:56.46 clocking at the Golden Gala Diamond League in Florence, Italy on June 2.
The 32-year-old Canadian record holder in the 5,000 and 10,000 plans to race both events at worlds and the 5,000 a few days later in Zurich.
WATCH | Full coverage of Sunday's Diamond League event in Silesia, Poland:
Diamond League calendar
- Monaco — July 21
- London — July 23
- Shanghai — July 29
- Shenzhen, China — Aug. 3
- Zurich — Aug. 31
- Brussels — Sept. 8
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With files from Reuters
