Jakob Ingebrigtsen suffers shock 1500m exit at World Championships in Tokyo

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the Norwegian middle-distance star, crashed out of the men's 1500 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after finishing eighth in his heat on Sunday, calling the performance "terrible."

The 24-year-old, a two-time Olympic and world champion, said the race had been "gifted" to him by its shape but that he had "lost too much" after an injury-disrupted season and six months without racing. "Of course I'm disappointed but it's a reality check that it was never really going to happen," he told BBC Sport. "I was holding on for dear life because I love to compete. I've been glued to the floor unfortunately. I've not been able to do what is needed, clearly. I just have to look forward."

Britons Josh Kerr, Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley all progressed from the heats, boosting their chances of medals, while notable exits included France's Azeddine Habz and Kenyan teenager Phanuel Koech, who had been among the fastest 1500m runners this year. The semi-finals are scheduled for Monday at 13:30 BST, with the final set for Wednesday.

Ingebrigtsen began the year strongly, breaking the world indoor 1500m and mile records in the same race in February and claiming 1500m and 3,000m golds at the World Indoor Championships the following month. However, an Achilles problem has kept him out of competition for months and prevented a sustained buildup to the outdoor world championships. "I have taken the trip down to the injury cellar several times this spring. It has been pitch dark there," he told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. "This is more or less the worst case scenario for me because I have had to sit home and watch the whole season go by."

He will still contest the 5,000m heats on Friday, the event in which he has won the last three global titles and one in which he said he feels better placed to succeed at these championships. Away from the track, earlier this year a court found his father, Gjert Ingebrigtsen, guilty of violence against Jakob's sister while clearing him of abusing Jakob.

Ingebrigtsen's exit leaves the field more open in the 1500m and marks a rare major-championship disappointment for a runner who had been expected to contend for the outdoor world title — the one major 1500m honour that had eluded him in a career that already includes Olympic and world championship gold. He said he would focus on recovery and the 5,000m, and that despite the setback he remained determined to compete at his best in Tokyo.