| Bernard Lagat |
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Bernard Lagat joined the Cougar staff as a volunteer coach last year after his bronze medal performance in the 1500m race at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Lagat went on to win a silver medal at the 2001 IAAF World Championships, running a 3:26.34, just four tenths of a second off the world record and the second fastest person in history at that distance.
Lagat is finishing his degree in management information systems at WSU and continuing to train with Cougar distance coach Dr. Li.
The affable Lagat, also known as "Kip," reached All-American status twice in cross country and nine times in track and field while wearing a Cougar uniform.
Lagat won the mile and 3000m races at 1999 NCAA Indoor Championships, earning the title of NCAA Indoor Male Athlete of the Year. That same year, Lagat won the 5000m race at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He accumulated four Pacific-10 Conference championships and was named Men's Track & Field Co-Athlete of the Year in 1999. He was also a three-time Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Male Athlete of the Year.
Lagat clocked a 1500m time of 3:28.51 - third fastest time in the world in 2000, and fourth fastest person in history at that distance. He has participated the past two summers in the IAAF Grand Prix and Golden League.
