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BIRMINGHAM, England:

Jakob Ingebrigtsen showed plenty of kick on his comeback from injury by winning his fourth consecutive 5000-metres title at the European championships on Monday.

The two-time Olympic champion from Norway hadn’t raced since having surgery early this year to clean up scar tissue on the protective sheath around his left Achilles tendon.

Down the stretch, Ingebrigtsen was in third place before accelerating in the final 50 metres to pass Florian Bremm of Germany and cross the line in 13 minutes, 15:29 seconds. Bremm was second followed by France’s Etienne Daguinos.

“Coming from the lowest of lows to be European champion again means the world to me,” Ingebrigtsen said. “Not even I believed it could happen coming here. Only with 600 metres to go I knew I would win.

“I am starting to feel more like myself,” he added. “I doubted myself every day coming into this and every minute leading up to the last lap today, but I’m always hoping to do my best. I’ve tried my best, and the last three weeks have been very smooth.”

The Norwegian’s rivals could only marvel at his abilities. Daguinos called him “a legend of our sport”.

Bremm said he looked to both sides, “and I thought, ‘Oh yes, I have it for sure’,” before Ingebrigtsen passed him.

Ingebrigtsen is not racing in the 1500 metres in Birmingham. He’s won both the 1500 and 5000 at the past three European Championships.

HUNT WINS 100M

Amy Hunt of Britain got just enough separation to win the women’s 100m in 11 seconds, edging Poland’s Ewa Swoboda (11.02) and Belgium’s Delphine Nkansa (11.06). Hunt’s teammate Dina Asher-Smith (11.10), the defending champion, was fifth.

Hunt won silver in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games two weeks ago. She was also the silver medallist in 200m at the World Championships last September.

Netherlands star Jessica Schilder made it three in a row in the shot put, taking gold with a throw of 20.73m at Alexander Stadium.

The reigning World champion’s teammate Jorinde van Klinken (19.64) won silver, and 2024 Olympic champion Yemisi Mabry (19.50) of Germany was third.