Bernard Lagat

Bernard “Kip” Lagat was a five-time Olympian who won a silver medal in 2004 and a bronze medal in 2000 in the 1,500 metres while running for his native Kenya. Lagat moved to the United States, obtained USA citizenship, and then ran for @TeamUSA at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics. There is some controversy about the date of his USA citizenship. It was announced in May 2005, but it appears likely that he became a citizen a year earlier than that, although he still represented Kenya at the 2004 Athina Olympics.

Lagat won a World Championship double in 2007 in the 1,500 and 5,000. He added four other World medals, with silvers in the 1,500 in 2001 (Kenya) and the 5,000 in 2009 and 2011 (USA), and a bronze medal in the 2009 1,500 (USA). He was also a three-time World Indoor Champion, all in the 3,000 metres, in 2004, 2010, and 2012.

Lagat ran in college in the USA for Washington State University, winning three NCAA indoor titles, anchoring the 1998 distance medley relay, and winning the mile and 3,000 metres in 1999. He won 14 US titles, winning the 1,500 in 2006 and 2008; the 5,000 metres in 2006-08, 2010-11, 2013-14, and 2016; and the indoor 3,000 metres in 2010-12 and 2014. He also won nine Wanamaker Miles at the Millrose Games.

Turning to the roads late in his very long career, Lagat won the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta in July 2018. He made his marathon début at the 2018 New York Marathon, running 2-17:20 to finish 18th and set his marathon PR of 2-12:10 in July 2018 at the Gold Coast Marathon in Australia. He later became the distance running coach at the University of Arizona.

Personal Bests: 1500 – 3:26.34 (2001); 5000 – 12:53.60 (2011).