Two’s company three’s allowed
Jake dubs bronze a relief after sapping success at Worlds
Jake Wightman followed up his Stateside gold with a Birmingham bronze – then said he’ll sack the 1500metres for this season after a “pretty unpleasant experience”.
The 28-year- old was 1.3 seconds off his winning World Championships time in Oregon as he took third in a remarkable race Aussie Oli Hoare won in 3:30.12.
As the hunter become the hunted, he led into the home straight but never had the legs to hold off Hoare and Kenyan Timothy Cheruiyot. Fellow Scots Neil Gourley and Josh Kerr followed home in eighth and 12th.
Wightman, now gearing up for the 800m at the Europeans this month, admitted the bronze was a relief as he clocked 3:30.53.
He said: “I’m mentally done with the 1500. I couldn’t have done another in Munich.
“That was a pretty unpleasant experience, both rounds where it was less enjoyable than the Worlds because there was a little bit more pressure.
“There is relief to have got through it and get something. That was as good as I could have done. I didn’t want to be a pedestrian and be running for minor medals.
“I wanted to make a statement but I didn’t feel anywhere near as good as I did a couple of weeks ago. I knew when I went, I was going to have a tough home straight but hoped everyone else would be feeling the same.
“Initially I was pretty disappointed but if I told myself I’d come back two weeks after winning the World Champs and in a similar field pick up a bronze, I’d be pretty happy.
“It’s mentally so tough to come back from that. I went from not wanting to do the 1500m to wanting to do it and to win. I could have easily come away with nothing.
“To get a bronze is a relief, to have something to show for the shape I’m in. I hope I don’t get shot down too much for not having won it being a world champion.
“But people don’t realise how high that World Championships was, two weeks is nothing to have to reset.”
The “refresher” of an 800m in Munich looms as he added: “I won’t do another 15, I don’t think, this season because mentally I’m checking out a little bit.”
Gourley posted a personal best of 3:32.93 and said: “That race was ridiculous. I thought I did everything I could. I put myself in the right place but I had nothing in the last 200m.
“I was fighting to hold on. That’s the way it goes. The level is so high just now.”