Birthday: 12/12/74 Mile PR: 3:47.28 - 2001
Metric Mile (1500m) PR: 3:26.34 - 2001 (#2 all-time)
High School: Kaptel HS
Hometown: Kapsabet, Kenya
College: Washington State University '99
Current Residence: Tucson, AZ
Bernard Lagat, age 43, made his 26.2 mile debut at the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon and the five-time Olympian ran 2:17:20 to place 18th overall. In 2020, he retired as a professional runner and is currently the Head Coach of the Cross Country program as well as assistant Track & Field coach at the University of Arizona.
At age 41, using his experience and Mile finishing speed (52-point final lap), he won the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials 5000m and a berth on his 5th Olympic team, clocking 13:35.50. At the Rio Olympics, Lagat finished 5th in the 5000m, recording another Masters WR, 13:06.78!
At the 2015 NYRR Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile, Lagat, 40, shattered the Masters (40 & older) indoor and absolute Mile record with his 3:54.91 clocking. He finished fourth overall against a world class field.
At the 2015 Sainsbury's Anniversary Games in London on July 25, Bernard ran 3:57.91 in the Emsley Carr Mile to set an outdoor Masters world record and became the first (and only) Master sub-4 indoors & outdoors.
The three-time 1500m Olympian (2000, 2004 & 2008) earned a silver medal in Sydney 2000 at 1500m and a 1500m bronze medal in Athens 2004. At the 2012 Olympic Trials, he was runner-up in the 5000m to make his 4th Olympic team. He is a seven-time World Championship medalist, indoors and outdoors from the 1500m to 5000m, including a 1500m gold medal in 2007.
Lagat is the U.S. record holder at 1500m (3:27.40) as well as the indoor Mile (3:49.89, #5 all-time) and 1500m (3:33.34). The legend has won a total of 15 USA titles indoors & outdoors from 1500m to 5000m including the 2018 USA 10K at age 43, in addition to winning a record eight Wanamaker Mile titles!
In 2011, Lagat also claimed his first 5th Avenue Mile title, and he is only one of two men to go sub-3:50 in the Mile - indoors and outdoors (world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj is the other).
At Washington State University, he was an 11-time NCAA All-American, winning the 1999 NCAA Indoor Mile title in 3:55.65.
FUN FACTS: His nickname is Kip and he loves playing golf.
The fact that his winning time was the slowest since 1932 is irrelevant; it was racing entertainment at its finest.
From E. Garry Hill, Editor, Track & Field News
Time or tactics? Based on recent conversation on our Message Board, there are still those who think that Matthew Centrowitz’s 2016...
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“My body felt hot and tired, but mostly it was my quads that were killing me. At that point, time is irrelevant. You just want to finish..."
By Cathal Dennehy, Runner's World
Plagued by cramping quads and calf muscles over the final miles, Bernard Lagat (right, PhotoRun.net) struggled to the...
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My kids were crying and I was crying too. I saw them and I said, ‘I’m going to make it in that 5000m just for these guys.’
By Sieg Lindstrom, Track & Field News
With 5 Olympics and 2 medals plus 5 World Championship titles outdoors and indoors won, Bernard Lagat, who will turn 42 in December,...
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“If I had one opportunity to go back, I would have run with Hicham El Guerrouj in the Mile when he was breaking the world record [3:43.13] or when he was running 3:45, 3:44s. I would have loved to have been there."
By SPIKES
Running legend Bernard Lagat wrapped up his track career in style...
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“The last Mile I just felt strong, and I was counting the numbers. Coach [James] Li told me, ‘Don’t finish sixth. Finish fifth.’”
By Sarah Lorge Butler, Runner's World
Bernard Lagat, 41, ran the first round of the men’s 5,000 meters on Wednesday morning. With his fifth-place finish in his...
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Multiple record holder and 13-time medalist Bernard Lagat on how to run the Mile, enjoying a glass of post-race wine and why the 100m doesn’t do it for him
From The Guardian
So Bernard, what have you been up to lately? I’ve been training hard since I came back from the U.S. trials. I’ve had...
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Lagat shatters Masters (40 & older) Mile world record; near record 10 men go sub-4 indoors at 108th NYRR Millrose Games
By Jim Gerweck, Mile wire
NEW YORK – The Mile is generally considered to be the perfect race in the track & field canon because of its near-perfect symmetry. Four laps of...
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108th NYRR Millrose Games, set for Saturday, Feb.14, draws stellar international fields with past champions for storied race
NEW YORK — Eight-time champion Bernard Lagat of Tucson, AZ, and New York native and defending champion, Mary Cain, 18, of Portland, OR, will star in the NYRR Wanamaker...
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Multi-Olympic and World Championship medalist will "attack" 40-and-older Mile record at NYRR Millrose Games' famed Wanamaker Mile on Feb 14
By Cathal Dennehy, RunBlogRun.com
RunBlogRun #1: How did you find the race today?
Bernard Lagat: Conditions were tough, and I'm not too happy with the...
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40 & older marks are second priority for two-time Olympic medalist and multiple U.S. record holder.
By Peter Gambaccini, Runner's World
In 2014, Bernard Lagat earned the silver medal at 3000 meters at the World Indoor Championships, kicked to another outdoor USA 5000 meter title, and had a...
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Two-time Olympic medalist ready to run in ‘World’s Fastest 5K’
By Kristian Ibarra, San Diego Union-Tribune
He ran in the Olympics, earning silver and bronze 1500m medals. He won gold at the World Championships.
Now, for the first time in his storied track & field career, Bernard Lagat...
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Olympic medalists and world class Milers Nick Willis and Bernard Lagat, 13th and 24th, respectively
By Erik Peterson for the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
BANDON, Ore. – Under rainless skies and calm winds, Rob Hogan of Ireland bested a field of 25 professional speed golfers to capture the title...
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At 33rd edition, 16 men go sub-4 minutes and 12 women sub-4:30; more than 5,100 finishers race down famed thoroughfare
By Barbara Huebner, Marathon News Service
NEW YORK – For Nick Willis, it was a season marred by injury; for Jenny Simpson, it was another year on the medal stand and a...
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By Sieg Lindstrom, Track & Field News
He is 38 now, but if Bernard Lagat has lost some speed on his fastball, the falloff is hard to detect. He set an American Record in the 2-Mile this winter (8:09.49), won the World Indoor 3000m title last year and missed a 5000 medal in London by a fraction...
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By Nicholas Thompson, The New Yorker
Most athletes peak at about the age of twenty-six or twenty-seven. For tennis players, it’s a bit younger; for golfers, a bit older. Most everyone starts to fade by about thirty. There are, however, a few freaks. One of them pitches relief for the Yankees....
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By Sara Germano, The Wall Street Journal
It goes without saying that to be a track champion, you have to be swift. But running pros will tell you that, especially for indoor races, it also helps to be short.
Dozens of Olympians and world champions will toe the line Saturday at the 168th...
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By Barbara Huebner, NYRR News
Some of the greatest Milers in the world have won the Fifth Avenue Mile presented by Nissan, which will be run for the 32nd time on Saturday. Sydney Maree, Steve Scott, Mary Slaney, John Walker, Peter Elliott and Bernard Lagat are among those who have broken the...
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By Scott Cacciola, The Wall Street Journal
After Bernard Lagat competes Saturday in the Fifth Avenue Mile, he plans to do something that would feel completely foreign to many elite runners: He will toss his sneakers in a closet and pig out for the next five weeks. No running. No sit-ups. No...
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Lagat, who took a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics and silver at the 2004 Games running the 1,500 meters, faltered at the 2008 Games. Now he's among the favorites in the 5,000 meters at London.
By David Wharton, Los Angeles Times
Time means everything to a runner.
Every step equals another...
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Kenyan rivals Asbel Kiprop and Silas Kiplagat will be back at Hayward Field on June 2
By Curtis Anderson, The Register-Guard
EUGENE, Ore. - The Bowerman Mile has been called the greatest race in America.
With more sub-4-minute performances than at any other U.S. invitational track and field...
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From adidas Grand Prix
NEW YORK - (May 7, 2012) - Nine athletes who have won a total of 26 World Championships medals have been added to the field for the adidas Grand Prix on Saturday, June 9, organizers have announced.
Among them are Jenny Simpson, the reigning women’s 1500-meter World...
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As part of USA TODAY Sports' "100 Olympic hopefuls in 100 Days" series, prospective U.S. Olympians give their thoughts on the Games in their own words.
By Michael Florek, USA Today
Leo Manzano's first trip to the Olympics ended when he didn't make the final of the men's 1,500 meters.
He...
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