Bernard Lagat triumphs over Kenenisa Bekele in London (© Getty Images)
Sheffield, UKMultiple global 1500m medallist and former World Indoor 3000m champion Bernard Lagat, hopes that a first win at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix, a Grand Prix status meeting as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour, in Sheffield, England on Sunday 15 July, will put him in prime position for gold at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka, Japan (25 Aug - 2 Sep).
The Kenyan-born American athlete has enjoyed repeated success in Britain, with victories in London and Birmingham, but has yet to win in Sheffield, finishing third in 2005.
So the 32-year-old will head to the Don Valley Stadium on Sunday 15 July with only one thing on his mind - crossing the finish line first in the 1500m.
“Every season is important and this year is special because it will be my first chance to represent the US at a World Championships, and with Beijing next year it is even more important to do well, so of course I want to go to the event in the best shape possible in order to have a great chance of winning.”
“My season before Osaka is about getting ready for the World Championships. Like the London meeting in early August, the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield is an important part of my preparations. It will be a great chance to compete in a strong field and hopefully come out with a confidence-boosting result.”
“I won in Birmingham last summer and also indoors in February and I have also won races in Glasgow and London, so I enjoy competing in the UK and seem to run well. I expect to be in pretty good shape by the time of Sheffield so I would expect to run well,” concluded the 2000 Olympic bronze and 2004 Olympic silver medallist.
Zarah Al-Kudcy for the IAAF