Bernard Lagat, a Kenyan-American middle and long-distance runner, was born on December 12, 1974 in Kaptel village near the town of Kapsabet, which is located in Nandi District. He currently represents the United States and resides in Tucson, Arizona with his wife Gladys Tom, whom he met at Washington State University, and their son Miika.
Bernard Lagat is one of ten children and has three siblings, William Cheseret, Robert Cheseret, and Irine Lagat, who participate in track events as well. His sister Mary Chepkemboi Lagat is also a runner and a 1994 African Champion.
He graduated from Kaptel High School in 1994 and then joined the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Nairobi in 1996. Later that year, Bernard Lagat moved to Washington State University, where he earned a degree in management information systems in 2000.
While growing up on a family farm in Kapsabet, Bernard Lagat used to run a mile and a half to school. This daily run laid the foundation for his athletic career. He was further motivated by his family, especially his mother Marsalina and his sister Mary Chepkemboi Lagat. During his short stint at Jomo Kenyatta University, a coach spotted his talent and sent Bernard Lagat to Washington State University. Within one year, he began winning Pac-10 meets which results in a prosperous NCAA career. He claims that his coach, James Li, is his biggest inspiration, but adds that he also drew inspiration from Hicham El Guerrouj, a Moroccan middle-distance runner.
Bernard Lagat has represented Kenya in many international athletic events. He collected his first medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he was the second runner-up in the 1500 m event. He also won a medal for his impressive performance in 2001 at the World Championships held at Edmonton. He finished second in the 1500 m event and was awarded a silver medal. Two years later, at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Bernard Lagat clinched a silver medal yet again in the 1500 m event.
He won his first gold medal at the 2004 World Indoor Championships in the 3000 m event held in Budapest. Bernard Lagat also finished in second place that year in the 1500 m event at the Athens Olympics, for which he was awarded a silver medal.
He won his first gold medal as a competitor for the United States at the 2007 World Championships held in Osaka. Bernard Lagat crossed the finish line ahead of all his competition in the 1500 m event and took home a gold medal. He also participated in the 2007 World Championships 5000 m event and collected another gold medal. He won the 1500 m and 5000 m runs at the US Olympic Trials and qualified to compete with Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he managed to finish ninth in the finals of the Men’s 5000 m event. In the 1500 m event, Bernard Lagat made it to the semi-finals and ranked sixth at the finish line.
Apart from being a professional runner, Bernard Lagat was signed by Agent James Templeton to help a group of young Kenyan racers. In the future, he wants to aid young people in developing nations and groom them into good athletes. He also hopes to start participating in longer races and wants to travel with his wife to new places, especially South America.
