Former Cougs standout Lagat becomes U.S. citizen

TUCSON, Ariz. – Olympic silver medalist Bernard Lagat has become an American citizen and plans to compete for the United States, becoming the latest Kenyan runner to change nationalities.

Lagat, one of the best middle distance runners in the world and a former standout at Washington State University, must wait before he represents the United States at any IAAF competition because of rules governing nationality switches. He won’t compete at the 2005 world championships and could sit out up to three years from the date he last represented Kenya, which was Aug. 25, 2004.

If Kenya agrees to the change, the waiting period would be reduced to one year under IAAF rules and he could be eligible starting this Aug. 25. Kenya’s track and field federation and USA Track & Field have been informed of Lagat’s intentions.

The 30-year-old Lagat plans to formally apply for the switch in the next few weeks, and a decision is expected later this year.

Lagat, who became a U.S. citizen on March 29, won bronze in the 1,500 meters at the 2000 Olympics and silver in 2004. He has been in the United States since 1996 and lives in Tucson.

“I thought long and hard before changing my nationality but, at the age of 30, I have to look to my future, after my running career has come to an end,” Lagat said in a statement.

Lagat can represent the United States in Golden League meets and invitationals and will run in the 5,000 at the Mount SAC Relays on Sunday. He plans to keep running until at least the 2008 Beijing Games, and said it was difficult to make the change.

“It was a great honor to see the Kenyan flag flown, as well as the Kenyan national anthem played, in recognition of my efforts at many prestigious events and those memories will never fade,” Lagat said. “Most of my family still lives in Kenya and I will continue to maintain strong links with the country.”

Lagat has the third-fastest time in the 1,500 at 3 minutes, 26.34 seconds.