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In recent years there have been important discussions and strong opinions about the awarding of the King’s Cups in athletics. 2020 was no exception.
The jury has a score table to relate to, but they must also use their judgment to decide what the best NM performance is.
On the men’s side, Karsten Warholm scored 31 more points than Jakob Ingebrigtsen on the table, but the trophy still went to Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
The 20-year-old thus becomes the first since 1963 to receive the Copa del Rey based on the men’s 1500 meters result, which sheds light on the issue that has been debated in recent years: does the table give bad results? for medium and long distance runners?
On the women’s side, Amalie Iuel scored nine more points than Hedda Hynne on this point table. Iuel won the Copa del Rey.
– It means a lot. I have been looking for it for a long time, but I have not reached it. It was fun taking it today, he tells NRK.
Warholm admits his disappointment
At the same time, Iuel expresses his amazement that it was Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and not his own training partner Karsten Warholm, who was called to the podium.
– Now I don’t know if I completely agree with the jury’s decision today. I think Karsten delivered an enormously strong run. I think it’s poorly done to compare his performance here with his previous accomplishments this year, he says.
In terms of previous achievements this year, Warholm has completed the all-time season in the 400m hurdles, while Jakob Ingebrigtsen has set European records in the 1500m and 2000m.
GOLDEN DUO: Training partners Karsten Warholm and Amalie Iuel took NM gold in the 400m hurdles, but only Iuel won the King’s Cup.
Photo: Ørn E. Borgen / NTB Scanpix
– Today there were bad conditions here and I think I was a strong candidate to get it, but we just have to respect that the committee has a perception of reality slightly different from ours, says Amalie Iuel.
Karsten Warholm had won the King’s Cup the previous five years and admits that he had looked at the table before departure. That’s where it got the highest score.
– I will not hide that I am a little disappointed. At the same time, I think Jakob, who is a fantastic athlete, showed a very strong run yesterday, says Warholm, noting that Ingebrigtsen took two golds over the weekend (800 and 1500 meters).
Ingebrigtsen: – It doesn’t depend on me
Before the winners were announced, Ingebrigtsen told NRK that he did not have the great faith of becoming the cup winner. After receiving his first Copa del Rey, he is still a bit surprised.
– I do not know exactly what the reason is, but I must say that it is an honor that people believe that I have deserved it more than people like Karsten, who is a double world champion. It’s not easy to compare yourself to such people, Ingebrigtsen tells NRK.
At the same time, he admits that he has felt like an even stronger candidate before, but without winning the trophy.
– I probably felt that it would have been more deserved when I was 16 years old when I did the SL of my life, but it is not for me to decide, he says.
Reverse evaluation
Although the jury used their criteria to name Ingebrigtsen as the winner of the cup, the same evaluation was not made by the women.
– It is demanding 800 meters to run fast enough, but I have not thought much about it, says Hedda Hynne herself.
Coach and partner Erik Sakshaug admits, however, that he is surprised that the jury makes so many different evaluations in seemingly similar situations.
– Obviously they have used a different discretion, as both Hedda and Jakob did solo races at medium distance. We knew it would be tough on the Copa del Rey with the program that Hedda has had in recent weeks. He has run four races in six days, where, among other things, he has established the best of the year in the world and earned a second place in the Diamond League, notes Sakshaug.
Expect criticism
Athletics President Kjetil Tømmernes, who was one of three jurors, acknowledges that it was a difficult decision.
– In the Copa del Rey Committee, a totality is always considered around achievement, and there were many achievements we had. She has the scoreboard, but if she just stepped away from it, she wouldn’t have needed a committee, says Tømmernes, who thus confirms that discretion was used.
– Are you expecting some angry phone?
– Yes, but it’s wonderful. Now there is excitement around the Copa del Rey, and it is important that we preserve the prestige of winning a Copa del Rey. The criteria say that it should be the highest award of the championship, and that is what we, who are in charge of delivering the trophy of His Majesty the King, must take care of, says the president of Athletics.
