Jakob Ingebrigtsen eliminated from 1500m heats in shock World Championships exit

Jakob Ingebrigtsen suffered a shock exit from the men's 1500 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing eighth in his heat and failing to progress to the semi-finals.

The 24-year-old Norwegian, a two-time Olympic and world champion, called the performance "terrible" and said he had "lost too much" fitness after an injury-disrupted season. "The race itself was perfect, especially how it turned out, it was gifted to me," Ingebrigtsen said. "Unfortunately I have lost too much and I have not been able to prepare. I was holding on for dear life because I love to compete."

Ingebrigtsen entered the championships with a season that began brightly — he broke the world indoor 1500m and mile records in February and won 1500m and 3,000m golds at the World Indoor Championships the following month — but an Achilles problem left him unable to race for six months before Tokyo. He said the enforced lay-off had been a "pitch dark" period and conceded this outcome was a reality check.

Britain's Josh Kerr, Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley advanced from the heats, boosting their chances in a field that saw other pre-race favourites eliminated. Frenchman Azeddine Habz and Kenyan teenager Phanuel Koech, who were among the fastest 1500m runners this year, also failed to progress. The men's 1500m semi-finals are scheduled for Monday at 13:30 BST, with the final on Wednesday.

Ingebrigtsen has been the dominant figure at global level over the 5,000m in recent years, winning the past three world titles in that event, and he will now turn his attention to the 5,000m heats on Friday. He said he believed he was currently better placed to challenge in the longer distance.

The exit in Tokyo means Ingebrigtsen will not have the opportunity at these championships to fill the one major outdoor 1500m title missing from his collection. He won the Olympic 1500m in Tokyo four years ago and has been beaten in the past two world championship finals in the event by Britain's leading runners.

Off the track, Ingebrigtsen has also faced difficult family matters this year. His father, Gjert Ingebrigtsen, was cleared of abusing Jakob at trial but was found guilty of violence against his daughter, Ingrid, earlier in the year.

After Sunday's heats Ingebrigtsen said he would "look forward" to the next event, acknowledging the disappointment but also underlining his desire to compete despite the setbacks. The 5,000m heats present his best remaining opportunity at these championships to add to his collection of global titles.