Budapest brings together the biggest stars of athletics in the Hungarian capital, including three athletes who want to write their name in golden letters in the history book of this sport. ESPN Run separates them, highlights them, and positions them as the "athletes to follow":
*Jakob Ingebrigtsen (1500-5000)
The Norwegian aspires to the double gold medals that he could not achieve in the 2022 World Championships, when he finished second in the 1500 and won the 5000. He was the European indoor champion this year in the 1500 and 3000, and has won all four outdoor races in the 1500, all belonging to the Diamond League circuit in Rabat, Oslo, Lausanne, and Chorzow. He has also set the world record for the two miles in Paris with 7:54.10.
*Faith Kipyegon (1500-5000)
The Kenyan, a double world and Olympic champion in the 1500, has set three world records this season in the 1500 meters, 5000 meters, and mile. In Budapest, she will aim to defend her crown in the 1500, a distance in which she has not lost since June 10, 2021, and also achieve a double that no woman has achieved so far in those two events.
*Joshua Cheptegei (10,000 meters)
The Ugandan, a double world champion in Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022, will seek his third consecutive world gold in a race where he is the favorite. The world record holder in the 5000 and 10,000 meters, if he wins in Budapest, he will come closer to Haile Gebrselassie's four titles from the nineties, with just one title away.