The men's 3,000m at an indoor championships often brings together specialists from a range of distances, making the lesser‑run event one of the most unpredictable on the programme.
The straight‑final format has historically produced cagey affairs, with the first kilometre frequently unfolding at a pedestrian pace before the inevitable surge, a waiting game of who will strike first, and when.
On Saturday evening, 21‑year‑old Nick Griggs will contest his first World Indoor Championships in Torun, returning to the distance that first propelled him into the spotlight when he claimed European Junior gold in 2021.
The Tyrone native believes the 3,000m is perfect for him and is relishing the opportunity of a straight final.
"I think the 3,000m at the minute is just perfect for me, and especially the way it is going into a straight world final I think there's nothing else I could ask for," Griggs told RTÉ Sport.
He also revealed that targeting the championships in Poland had not featured prominently in his initial season plan:
"At the start of the year… World indoors had a question mark beside it, because it wasn't a big priority.
"The standard was very fast, if I got the standard I will do it. So, I think it's worked out perfectly. I didn't have to put a lot of time and energy into it, just had to race one race to get the time and then did the job at nationals as well… This is a huge opportunity."
Griggs is ranked third on this year’s season‑best list courtesy of the 7:32.79 he clocked in Boston in January.
His Irish team‑mate Andrew Coscoran sits one place higher and finished sixth at last year’s championships in Nanjing.
Some are entertaining comparisons to the famous 1987 World Indoor final.
When Frank O’Mara and Paul Donovan delivered a historic Irish 1-2. But with all three Paris Olympic 1500m medallists entered, Griggs and Coscoran will face stiff competition.
But Griggs is "dreaming big" and isn’t ruling out a podium finish, though he notes that fifth place may also be a satisfactory result.
"I am dreaming of a medal. Why not? Why could it not be me? I'm in that position of being one of the highest-ranked guys in the world, and even if I didn’t medal, that might still be a successful race. I might come away and come fifth but it all depends on how the race goes.
"Why not dream big? For me, that would be a medal, so I think I've just got to… manage those expectations.
"Maybe I’m naive or delusional, or as cocky as that makes me sound, once you’re in the position, most athletes are going to dream of a medal."
Griggs arrives in Torun after a run of strong performances.
He banished his cross country frustrations by winning U23 gold at the European Championships in December.
Griggs narrowly lost out to Brian Fay at the Irish trials a few weeks earlier, and then secured his first senior national title at the start of this month, all while squeezing in a victory at the prestigious Armagh 5k Road Races. The World Indoor qualifying time fell in the middle of a busy schedule.
He is not the only versatile athlete in the field.
Defending world 1500m champion Geordie Beamish and newly‑minted European 10k road record holder Yann Schrub also arrive with varied focuses beyond the 3k.
Griggs admitted he feels well suited to longer distances and draws inspiration from Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who competes across multiple disciplines whenever healthy.
"I think definitely, I have the engine. There probably have been signs where I am a 5k runner with being quite good at cross country over the years.
"I think I'm still good at the 15 (1500m). I haven't really shown it in a few years to be honest. I haven't raced a good one in quite some time, but I do think if I get the opportunity in the 15 that I will run pretty quickly.
"I think the 5k can be so brutal. If you run too many, you can't run five or ten different time trial 5k's throughout the year that's just not possible so I think in this day and age you kind of have to learn from someone like Jakob who is so good over 5k's.
"I could see myself definitely focusing on the 5k's and the championships, but you just can't be just focused on one thing when it is so long and so brutal."
There remains debate about where Griggs’ long‑term specialism will lie.
He acknowledges his mixed experience at 5,000m, including a challenging outing over the distance indoors this season, showing how unforgiving the event can be.
"I've learned the hard way, I think especially my most recent 5k on the track, that if you get it wrong it can go really wrong.
"I think in a 15 (1500m) it's a bit more forgiving, and if that makes sense it's not as long and you can maybe not be on top form, and still come as a good result, whereas for a 5k if you're not on top form… you can really really suffer for it."
For now, though, the 3,000m may be the perfect middle ground, and potentially a realistic medal opportunity.
"There's no other world championships this year so I think definitely at the minute for me the 3k is the sweet spot.
"I've shown I can go and run the time, to get me here… I think I'm fitter than I was when I ran that time… I know I'm in the shape to do it, it's just can I put it together in a championship race and I think I did that at nationals pretty well but again nationals with a whole different kettle of fish to the world indoors."
Listen to live updates from the World Athletics Championships on Saturday and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
