Young middle-distance superstar Cam Myers has stunned the athletics world with a brilliant victory against an elite field in the Diamond League’s 1500m final in Brussels (on Friday, local time).
Up against some of the best in the world, including Olympic gold medallists Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Cole Hocker, the 20-year-old Aussie timed his finish to perfection to snatch victory in 3:30.14, surging past Kenya’s Phanuel Koech (3:30.18) over the final few strides.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Cam Myers wins 1500m Diamond League final
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Ingebrigtsen was leading on the final lap and was holding off the challenges as they headed into the home straight.
Koech then swept past the Norwegian and appeared set for the win, only for the fast-finishing Myers to edge ahead at the line in a dramatic finish, with Ingebrigtsen diving at the line to claim fourth.
Ingebrigtsen, who is continuing his comeback after Achilles surgery in February, then raised eyebrows when he spoke to media after the race.
He took objection to a reporter who suggested he fell at the finish line (clarifying that it was a dive), and then said the race was “terrible”, despite clocking a season’s best time.
“Very disappointed with the race and the result, racing against a bunch of cowards, but it is what it is,” he said.
“Of course everyone is racing to win but there’s a little bit of honour in terms of how you win.”
It’s worth noting, however, Ingebrigtsen did acknowledge Myers, albeit briefly.
“It’s only Cameron that’s had good race, everyone else looked like losers, me included,” he said.
In a separate interview, Ingebrigtsen blasted the pacer, and took aim at US runner, Hocker.
“The pacer does a pretty bad job, unfortunately,” he said.
“I didn’t necessarily want to find myself in that position. Cole, he he got the pacemaker changed and swapped to his own teammate on the behalf of a French pacer, so everybody thought that he was forcing himself to follow the pacemaker.
“That was just a trick. He fooled all of us. He decided to hide behind everyone else. So, of course, I’m always giving my best and always going to try to win, but definitely not strong enough last 20 metres today to to run this way.
“Just have to work a little bit fitness-wise, get some more training. So, I think I will run in circles around them in not too many months.”
Meanwhile, Myers was thrilled with win which was his first Diamond League final.
“Everyone was pushing each other, but I felt that I could stay relaxed and save my energy until the final stretch,” he said after the race.
“I wouldn’t say that this victory is a surprise to me. I would more say that it’s a relief that I can finally show what I was building in the last couple of years.”
On Monday, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games mile silver medallist won at Berlin’s annual ISTAF one-day event, beating a quality 1500m field in Germany.
Late last month, he also took third in the 3000m at the Zurich Welklasse event.
Myers is the two-time defending Australian champion in the 1500m.
His mile duel with Scottish world record holder Josh Kerr was one of the most-anticipated events at the Glasgow Games.
Kerr easily won, but it was the Australian’s first senior medal at a major international championship.
Myers also won the 1500m at this year’s Prefontaine Classic in Oregon, while his season-best was a 3:28.00 to win a promotional event in Paris.
He’ll now turn his attention to the Ultimate Championships in Budapest from September 11-13.
– With AAP and Reuters
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