Lagat interview transcript – Lagat will attempt to win the sixth Wanamaker Mile of his career Friday night at the 101st Millrose Games

NEW YORK – Two-time Olympic medalist and reigning World Outdoor 1,500m and 5,000m champion Bernard Lagat will attempt to win the sixth Wanamaker Mile of his career Friday night at the 101st Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    The third event of USA Track & Field's 2008 Indoor Visa Championship Series, the Millrose Games will be televised live Friday night from 7-8 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN2 and Saturday on NBC from 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET 2. It will be Webcast by Sportnet next week, available via link from www.usatf.org.

    Lagat sat down for an interview Thursday afternoon, and excerpts from that conversation are seen below. For a full bio of Lagat, visit the Athlete Bios section of www.usatf.org. For more information on the Visa Championship Series, visit www.visachampionshipseries.com

    Q: What would it mean to you to win a sixth Wanamaker Mile on Friday night?

    A: That would mean a lot. I feel really fortunate that I've been able to run since 2001 up to now and that I'm going to have my sixth win, I want to believe that way, by tomorrow night. That means I would be only one away (from Eamonn Coghlan who leads with seven all-time Wanamaker wins) if I win tomorrow. I would be really honored to approach that record.

    Q: In growing up in Kenya you did not experience indoor track and now running indoors, particularly at Millrose, seems very important to you.

    A: Oh yeah, it does. I did not grow up running indoors and it was not anything to me. When I came over here running it in college was my first time running indoors. I kind of got used to running indoors and it became a favorite for me right away, and I was able to win the NCAAs a long time ago and it's a fantastic experience. That experience helps me when I'm running in New York as a professional. I really enjoy running indoors.

    Q: The Garden track is short with tight cures. Have you gotten accustomed to it?

    A: I've gotten used to it, honestly. Normally the standard track is 200 meters is easy and in the smaller tracks you feel like you are going round and round and round, but you need to enjoy it. It's something different and out of the ordinary and you just go and have fun and make sure you count the laps not to go short (laughter).

    Q: The fans at the Garden are so close and right on top of you. Does that inspire you to run faster?

    A: The fans at Madison Square Garden are fantastic. They are amazing people and it feels like they are close to me when I'm running. It's like they are pushing us, they are enjoying it and the noise is amazing and I really do well in that kind of situation.

    Q: In winning the gold medals in the 1,500m and 5,000m at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan last summer, does that seem like a pleasant dream to you now?

    A: Yes it does (laughter). A lot of people ask me, 'Do you know that you are a double world champion?' Yes I am. It has already sunk in that yes, I did it. I had been running under the shadow of (Hicham) El Guerrouj from 2000 until 2004, and in 2007 I was able to win the 1,500 and 5,000 meters. Being the first athlete ever to do that at a World Outdoor Championships was a fantastic feeling and being an American even added something more special.

    Q: You've said that you want to try the same double this year at the Olympics in Beijing. The slow pace of the 5,000m final played right into your hands in Osaka. Do you think that will happen again at the Olympics?

    A: They might actually do something different this year. The people I compete against are asked why they take it out so slow when they know they have a miler in there. The thing is that people want to run a tactical race at the Olympics or World Championships. You don't want to go out there and work for some other person. You want to go out there and try to put yourself in a winning situation, not a losing situation. Going into the U.S. Trials I want to concentrate on the 5,000m and 1,500m, then after the Trials are over I'll make my decision on whether to run the 5,000, the 1,500 or both.

    Q: How are you health-wise at this point in the season?

    A: I am feeling so good right now. I've been able to train with no problems and no injuries. I've been really lucky that way.

Tom Surber
Media Information Manager
Tom.Surber@usatf.org