Bernard "Kip" Lagat after finishing second at the NYRR 5th Avenue Mile in 2012. (Photo by Arun Kristian Das)
NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) -
Four-time Olympian Bernard "Kip" Lagat will run farther than he's ever run in a race when he laces up for the NYC Half on March 17, 2013, the New York Road Runners announced.
Lagat represented his native Kenya at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and the United States at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
"I'm excited to be running a half-marathon," Lagat said in a statement. "It's a big step up in distance, but I think I'll be well prepared. Of course, there's a bit of uncertainty, but that makes it exciting; the challenge is what really appeals to me."
Lagat, 38, has had a lot of success in New York City. He won the 2011 Fifth Avenue Mile and several Wanamaker Miles, and just last weekend reclaimed the American indoor record for a two-mile track race at the Millrose Games with a time of 8:09.49.
"We are simply thrilled to host Bernard Lagat, one of the greatest runners our sport has ever seen, in his debut at the half-marathon distance," NYRR CEO Mary Wittenberg said in a statement. "Bernard already has a storied history in New York City; he's inspired us with his dominance at the Wanamaker Mile and his perseverance at the Fifth Avenue Mile, racing year after year until he finally captured the crown.
Lagat has two Olympic medals in the 1,500-meter race: bronze at the Sydney Games in 2000 and silver in Athens in 2004. At the 2012 London Olympics, Lagat finished fourth in the 5,000-meter race.
At the 2012 5th Avenue Mile, Lagat, the defending champion, came in second to Matt Centrowitz.
The NYC Half is the Road Runners' flagship half-marathon. The race begins with one full loop of Central Park, heads south into Times Square, then shoots down the West Side Highway, and ends in Lower Manhattan.
"I'm really looking forward to the half-marathon next month," Lagat said. "I've been planning for it during all my training this season."
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:34 AM EDT2013-05-23 15:34:35 GMT
The Boston Bruins are on the brink of the Eastern Conference finals, and they got there on the backs of their suddenly offensive defensemen and a potent fourth line of forwards.
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Daniel Paille snapped a tie with 3:31 left in the third period, and the Boston Bruins put the New York Rangers on the brink of elimination with a 2-1 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series on...
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Nate McLouth homered leading off the bottom of the 10th inning, Chris Dickerson hit a pair of solo shots and the Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Yankees 3-2 Tuesday night to snap a six-game losing streak.
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Mike Leake pitched three-hit ball for seven sharp innings and the Cincinnati Reds parlayed star third baseman David Wright's early error Tuesday night into a 4-0 victory over the New York Mets.
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:55 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:55:22 GMT
The New York Yankees are going into the soccer business.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 3:31 PM EDT2013-05-23 19:31:10 GMT
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner launched his campaign for mayor of New York City this week, but his website seems to indicate he is running for office in Pittsburgh. The stylized and colorized image used in
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Thursday, May 23 2013 1:43 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:43:15 GMT
Kerry Kennedy has joined farmworkers protesting outside Wendy's shareholder meeting in Manhattan.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 9:07 AM EDT2013-05-23 13:07:03 GMT
The NYPD arrested a suspect in the latest anti-gay attack in the city, said police.
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:46 PM EDT2013-05-23 01:46:23 GMT
The New York City Police Department says it is beefing up security at the British consulate, military recruiting stations and other locations due to an apparent terror attack in London.
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:27 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:27:26 GMT
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:23 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:23:21 GMT
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 9:51 PM EDT2013-05-22 01:51:10 GMT
Just a few days after Mark Carson, 32, was killed for being gay, and only a few hours after a massive rally in the west village calling for an end to the anti-gay violence, it happened again.
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Bernard "Kip" Lagat after finishing second at the NYRR 5th Avenue Mile in 2012. (Photo by Arun Kristian Das)
