Right from the start, Abel Kipsang went to the front to keep the pace honest. Josh Thompson moved in to follow until Stewart McSweyn took the second position. They completed the first lap in 55.5. When defending champion Timothy Cheruiyot moved up to join his Kenyan teammate, Olympic Champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen took that seriously and followed. The second time down the home stretch, Ingebrigtsen cruised past the Kenyans into the lead. Cheruiyot marked Ingebrigtsen, with British runners Jake Wightman and Josh Kerr moving toward the front.[2]
By the bell the two Spaniards Mohamed Katir and Mario García Romo had come up to behind the Brits. Three teams cued up behind Ingebrigtsen. On the rail, Wightman traded elbows with Kipsang boxing him to the outside. With 300 to go, Wightman accelerated past Cheruiyot to Ingebrigtsen's shoulder. With 200 to go, Wightman went for it, passing Ingebrigtsen at the start of the turn. It opened into little more than a metre gap, but all the way down the homestretch, Ingebrigtsen was unable to close it. Behind them, Katir came through on the rail, also trading elbows with Cheruiyot before breaking free, drifting to the outside. Wightman beat Ingebrigtsen to the line to complete the upset. Katir trailed them by 3 metres in for bronze.[3]
Wightman's victory was called for the fans in attendance as usual by the stadium commentator. Uniquely, on this occasion that also happened to be the gold medalist's coach and father, Geoff Wightman.
Records
Before the competition records were as follows:[4]