Armory Foundation President Dr. Norbert Sander is extremely pleased that Bernard Lagat, owner of a record eight Wanamaker Mile titles, will compete in the 5,000-meter event during the Feb. 11, 2012, Millrose Games at the Armory New Balance Track and Field Center.
“The 5,000 meters at the Millrose Games at the Armory is a race I’m really excited about,” Lagat said. “Galen [Rupp] broke my U.S. record, so of course I have to try and get it back. I had a really good run at the Armory when I broke the U.S. two-mile record, so I’m looking forward to coming back for another good run.”
In February, in Birmingham, England, Rupp surpassed Lagat’s 2009 mark by a mere 6/100th of a second. The night before, on the Armory’s world’s fastest track, Lagat was turning heads in the New York Road Runners’ Deuce Record Challenge. Lagat finished with an 8:10.07, breaking the American indoor two-mile mark.
“It is very exciting to have Bernard continue his legacy at the Millrose Games,” said Millrose Games meet director Ray Flynn. “The 5,000 meters promises to be one of the meet’s highlights.”
Lagat won his first Wanamaker Mile title at the 2001 Millrose Games. He next won in 2003, before recording six consecutive Wanamaker victories from 2005-2010. Besides being owner of the American indoor two-mile record, Lagat is the country’s record holder in the 1,500-meter, mile and 3,000-meter, as well as the outdoor 1,500-meter, 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter.
He’ll have a great opportunity to regain his 5,000-meter indoor record. In the 1981 Millrose Games, Tanzania’s Suleiman Nyambui recorded the world indoor 5,000-meter record, just surpassing Alberto Salazar, who broke the American indoor mark. Nyambui’s time is still a Millrose Games record.
The country’s top men and women’s track and field athletes, as well as the finest college and high school student-athletes will showcase their talents at the Millrose Games.