Katir: “In the summer I want to beat Ingebrigtsen”

Mohammed KatirEuropean record holder of 3,000 meters on the indoor track, He declared on Tuesday that he is not ruling out trying for the Spanish record indoors at the Madrid rallywhich is currently at 3:33:32 owned by Andrés Díaz since 1999, and ensured that in the summer he wants to win against the Norwegian middle-distance runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen, with whom he maintains a tight rivalry in major championships. .

This 2023 couldn’t have started better for Katir. In the first race, the 1,500 of the Indoor Meeting of L’Eure, held in the French city of Val-de-Reuil, he won, and in the second, the Lievin Meeting, also in France, he beat the European record in 7:24.68 which is 3,000 in the possession of his compatriot Adel Mechaal. In addition, he is an outstanding contender of the fastest indoor race in history since the Ethiopian Lamecha Girma won with a world record (7:23.81).

“Tomorrow in Madrid I will run the 1,500. If the running race at 3:30 starts, the Spanish record can be set, but why not try the world record? (3:30.60). While we… I move more when there are strong rhythms than slow ones. If it’s slow, it’s very difficult for me, but if it’s at a rally pace I’m better,” said Katir, who pointed out that he wants to beat Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the summer.

“This is one of my goals and as I am close to the European records in the 1,500 and 3,000 I am working on them too. I want to improve my summer times, which are not easy, and the hardest is the 1,500, which if I improve my time is about 3:27. I want to lower the scores. My goal. If I get down to 3:28 I will be fit for the World Cup,” he said.

“I keep thinking about brands but since I won bronze at the Eugene World Cup I saw that a medal is better than a world record. Even so, records must be broken and you have to -think about it that way. . When they take me I will congratulate you”, he concluded.