Kieran Lumb leaves UW coach Andy Powell's pro group to train in Norway...

Washington alum Kieran Lumb (Paul Merca photo) announced that he is leaving Husky men's coach Andy Powell's Seattle-based pro training group and moving to Rogaland, Norway to train under coach Gjert Ingebrigtsen, the estranged father of reigning Olympic 5000 meter champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

Gjert Ingebrigtsen, who currently coaches Narve Gilje Nordås, recently started the Vikings Athletics Club, featuring Nordås and José Carlos Pinto of Portugal.

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According to an article posted in Canadian Running, Lumb felt that he was plateauing after several races this season.

“I spoke to my coach Andy [Powell] and told him how I felt. I started exploring other setups,” said the native of Vancouver, BC.

As a pro under Powell's group, which included Sam Prakel, Sam Ellis, Joe Waskom, and most recently, two-time NCAA 1500m champ Nathan Green of the Huskies, Lumb won Canadian 1500m titles, and competed at the world championships in Budapest, and the Paris Olympics.

During his undergrad stint at the UW, Lumb won the NCAA West Regional cross country title, and qualified for two NCAA championship meets. In 2022, he qualified in the 10000, and in his final season as a Husky, finished eighth in the 2023 NCAA indoor 3000, and anchored UW to a fourth place finish in the distance medley relay, helping the Dawgs to its highest team finish in school history, taking fourth.

Lumb, whose sponsor is the Swiss brand On Running, joined Nordås for a month-long training camp in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

“I loved the setup,” says Lumb on Ingebrigtsen’s group. “This is a step I felt I needed to take to figure out how good I can be.”

Ingebrigtsen's issues with his children, which led to the accusation of abuse, wasn't a factor in Lumb's decision to make the move to Norway from Seattle.

After going to trial in Norway, Gjert Ingebrigtsen was acquitted of all but one charge, of which he received a suspended sentence.

Nordås, who was third in the 1500 at the world championships, and seventh in the Olympics last year, went to both meets without Ingebrigtsen. While his case was being adjudicated in court, the Norwegian federation refused to issue Ingebrigtsen a coaches credential.

Lumb will double at both the 1500 and 5000 at this weekend's Canadian national championships in Ottawa.

The Canadian Running article is available here.

NOTE: Canadian Running contributed to this report.

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