Bernard Lagat To Try Longer Distance At NYC Half

NEW YORK (AP) - Bernard Lagat will run the longest race of his career when he competes in next month's NYC Half.

The 38-year-old American started out as a 1,500-meter specialist and shifted to the 5,000 later in his career. He won world championships at both distances in 2007. Lagat narrowly missed a bronze medal in the 5,000 at last summer's London Olympics.

He said Tuesday he would enter the 13.1-mile half-marathon through Manhattan. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. on March 17.

Lagat reclaimed the American indoor 2-mile record at the Millrose Games in New York on Saturday. He has talked about possibly trying longer distances in road races, but is still a force on the track in the 5,000 and may try to compete through at least the 2015 world championships.

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