Running News Daily

American middle-distance star Yared Nuguse launched his 2026 outdoor campaign in spectacular fashion, storming to victory and a new meeting record in the men's 1500 metres at the Rabat Diamond League on Sunday.

The Olympic and world medal contender produced a composed and clinical performance, crossing the finish line in 3:30.35 after a fiercely contested race that showcased some of the finest talent in global middle-distance running. Nuguse timed his effort to perfection, holding off a relentless late challenge from reigning World Champion Isaac Nader of Portugal, who closed rapidly but fell just short in 3:30.43.

The race developed into a thrilling showdown over the final 200 metres, with Nuguse maintaining his poise under pressure as Nader unleashed a powerful finishing kick. Despite the Portuguese star's impressive surge, the American had already built enough momentum to secure both the victory and the meeting record in one of the fastest 1500m races of the season.

French athlete Azzedine Habz completed the podium after another strong performance, clocking 3:30.68 to underline the exceptional depth of the field. With all three medalists finishing comfortably under 3:31, Rabat delivered a race worthy of its reputation as one of the premier stops on the Wanda Diamond League circuit.

For Nuguse, the victory sends an early statement to his rivals as the championship season approaches. Opening his year with a meeting record against a field featuring a reigning world champion highlights both his consistency and his growing status among the world's elite milers.

The result also signals that the men's 1500m is once again shaping up to be one of athletics' most competitive events. With Nuguse, Nader, Habz and several other global stars already displaying outstanding form, fans can expect more thrilling battles as the road to the major championships gathers momentum.

In Rabat, however, the spotlight belonged to Nuguse. On a night packed with quality performances, the American delivered exactly the kind of statement run that champions are remembered for—fast, fearless and ultimately record-breaking.

After breaking the European 2000m record with 4:50.01 at the Impossible Games in Oslo where he had the advantage of being paced by his brothers, Ingebrigtsen was racing against not only his older brother Filip but also the reigning world champion Timothy Cheruiyot from Kenya who was decisively beaten by the Ingebrigtsens in the virtual head-to-head clash between Oslo and Nairobi.

Aided by his training partners who were acting as his pacemakers, Cheruiyot blazed through the early stages in an unfathomably fast pace on his unofficial season’s debut. These exertions appeared to be catching up on the world champion as the pack closed up on Cheruiyot at the bell with Ingebrigtsen looming into view and Great Britain’s Jake Wightman also rounding into contention.

Ingebrigtsen was in position to strike off the final bend but the forward-leaning Cheruiyot kicked away again, holding the Norwegian off to win in a world leading 3:28.45 after an overly exuberant first 400 meters of 52.59. In contrast Ingebrigtsen ran a much more steady paced race and was rewarded with a phenomenally fast time of 3:28.68.

Ingebrigtsen’s time eclipsed Mo Farah’s European record of 3:28.81 which was set in the same stadium seven years ago and the teenager moves to eighth on the world all-time list which is still headed by Hicham El Guerrouj’s world record of 3:26.00.

“I felt like I kept the same pace...going from 3:30 to 3:28 it's double the achievement. It's crazy,” said Ingebrigtsen whose previous lifetime best stood at 3:30.16.

Ingebrigtsen was gearing up for not only his Olympic debut in Tokyo as well as the now-cancelled European Championships in Paris where more continental honors must have surely beckoned. Despite the decimation of the summer calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic, motivation has by no means been lacking for the ebullient and popular Norwegian.

“This year I have been doing every session, I never skipped a single one because I was very motivated after Doha. That's why I can run this fast. It's unbelievable to run this fast in one race. It's one shot, one chance,” he said.

The Stade Louis II Stadium is the foremost venue for middle distance runners searching for fast times. Behind Ingebrigtsen, Wightman moved to fourth on the European all-time list - ahead of both Sebastian Coe (3:29.77) and Steve Cram (3:29.67) among others - with a marvelous lifetime best of 3:29.47.

Filip Ingebrigtsen, who had to concede the family record of 3:30.01 to Jakob tonight, almost matched his lifetime best with 3:30.35 in fourth. Reigning European indoor champion Marcin Lewandowski from Poland was seventh in 3:33.99.