A cross-country legend

Lagat thankful for gold opportunities

BEIJING - When Bernard Lagat speaks, there is a pleasing, Kenyan-accented lilt to his voice. He recounts his journey from Kapsabet, Kenya, to Washington State to United States Olympian without breaking his cheery cadence.

But as soon as the subject turns to national loyalty, the lilt disappears. His voice takes on a stronger, serious tone. He acknowledges the runners for hire who compete for wealthy Gulf States such as Bahrain and Qatar. Some runners are his former countrymen. Lagat talks about coming to America for an education. Then, he launches into his coming to America story.

"When the American national anthem is played, after I do something like in Osaka [winning the 1,500 and 5,000 meters at the 2007 World Championships], I feel enormous pride," said Lagat. "[It was] the same way when the Kenyan national anthem was played when I was representing Kenya. My loyalty is for the country that I'm representing right now. And that is the United States."

If Lagat wins the 5,000 today, he will be the first American to accomplish the feat since Bob Schul in 1964. It also will be the first gold medal of Lagat's Olympic career. He took the bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 1,500 and silver at the 2004 Athens Games in the metric mile. If he merely medals, he will be the first American to reach the podium in the 5,000 since Bill Dellinger took bronze in 1964.

Lagat must find the form of the 2007 World Championships. When Lagat failed to reach the 1,500 final earlier this week, the 33-year-old looked as if he'd aged overnight. But after advancing to the 5,000 final, Lagat revealed a left Achilles' injury hampered his training for three weeks leading up to the Games. Lagat will always be considered one of the top Kenyan runners of modern times, but he takes pride in competing for the Stars and Stripes.

"After running for Kenya for a very long time, I thought past running," said Lagat. "I wanted to establish my life in America. The only thing I thought was I wanted American citizenship [which he received in 2004]. Then, when I am a runner, I would like to represent America, as well, at the highest level possible. That's what I did in 2007. And I'm doing it right now."

When asked about the reaction in Kenya to his new allegiance, Lagat said, "They might have a lot of mixed feeling seeing the American flag being raised instead of the Kenyan flag. I can understand their frustration and maybe what they are thinking. But to me, personally, I don't feel any shame. I don't feel any disgrace. I'm really happy and really excited that the flag is raised for what I have done for the country."

Greener pastures

As Lagat discussed his encouraging win in his 5,000 semifinal heat, the medal ceremony for the 1,500 was on a television screen behind him. Lagat expected to be on top of the podium. Instead, Rashid Ramzi won the gold for Bahrain's first Olympic medal. Ramzi, who considers himself Morrocan and trains primarily in his homeland, is part of a trend in recent years in which athletes rich with middle-distance and distance-running talent have switched allegiances to countries rich with oil, like Qatar and Bahrain. The Gulf States are willing to pay lucrative salaries for talented runners who can raise their athletic profile.

To claim victory in the 5,000, Lagat must defeat Ramzi, as well as Kenyan turned Qatari James Kwalia C'Kurui. Lagat will likely face his biggest competition from former countrymen Eliud Kipchoge and Edwin Cheruiyot Soi as well as Ethiopian brothers Kenenisa and Tariku Bekele. A large lead pack could be entirely African-born runners, but only two African nations - Ethiopia and Kenya - will likely be represented on the runners' singlets. The other names on the uniforms will not be of those typically found in front in the 5,000.

All of this nation switching throws Lagat's story into sharper relief. In many ways, he is the antithesis of the runners for hire. His parents sold land to pay for his first flight to America so he could attend Washington State on an athletic scholarship.

"My trip coming to the United States was purely academics," said Lagat. "I didn't even think at some point I would be running in the Olympics. I wanted to run in the Olympics, but that was not my first priority. My journey has been successful. I have my degree [in management and econometrics]. I've been able to run in two Olympics. I live in America. I have my family. It is a dream that a little boy from Kenya dreamed about, and finally it came true. And it didn't happen by myself.

"[It came] from the coach who sent me to the United Sates from the coach I got at Washington State and from the scholarship that came from the American taxpayers. I was really thankful I got my academic achievements through taxpayers' money, American money."

Lagat grew up poor in Kenya, though he said his parents and 10 siblings "didn't sleep without food." He looked up to his older sister, Mary, who was the 1984 African 3,000 champion. Mary gave Bernard his first pair of running shoes in 1992 and encouraged him to compete. With Mary, then Bernard, leading the way, the family has produced several elite runners. They want to see Lagat complete his Olympic medal set with a gold.

Getting his kick

Before the qualifying heats of the 5,000, Lagat received a text from Mary. He said the message read: "You have all it takes to run good. So don't worry about anything. Just run as if it's your last race today." Lagat didn't run that hard, but he looked more like himself, kicking to the finish. He believes he saved his best for the final after his dismal showing in the 1,500.

"That went all right," said Lagat of his semifinal heat. "It was slow and I knew at some point, if I don't catch the top four, I might as well go away again like the 1,500. I wanted to run aggressively, even though it was slow. And I did. I'm happy I won. It wasn't necessary to win, but I felt strong. Why not go with the win? I felt really good."

When asked if the 1,500 would be in the back of his head in the 5,000 final, Lagat said, "No, it's gone. I don't even want to talk about it. I don't even want to think about it."

With all he has accomplished in his running career, Lagat did not expect to find himself looking for redemption in his final race of the Beijing Olympics. So, he chooses not to see it that way. He does, however, see success in the 5,000 final as one way he can repay his new country.

"I'm trying to give back to America what they gave me long ago," said Lagat.

Lagat also doesn't see the Beijing Olympics as the end of his running career. He claims his body feels younger than it is. He would not rule out competing for four or five more years, meaning the 2012 London Olympics loom as a possibility. Especially if he wins gold today.

"Right now, I feel like I'm getting stronger and faster," said Lagat. "If I get the gold medal here, that would propel me a long, long time from here."

Shira Springer can be reached at springer@globe.com.