Bernard Lagat defeats USA teammates Manzano & Lomong to win mile at London Grand Prix...

Reigning world 1500 & 5000 meter champion Bernard Lagat (photo courtesy James Templeton, Lagat's agent) held off the challenge of his Olympic teammates Leo Manzano & Lopez Lomong to win the Emsley Carr Mile at the Aviva London Grand Prix meet Saturday at Crystal Palace in a time of 3:52.71.

Tucking in behind pacemaker David Krummenaker for the first half of the race, who led them through in 1:55.52, the pace slowed down in lap 3, as a 60.8 lap (2:56.32 for 1200) shot down any hopes of a sub 3:50 mile.

Lagat, the former Washington State University All-American, increased the pace on the final lap, running 56.39 for the last 409 meters, and held off the charge of Manzano, who ran a personal best of 3:53.01, and Lomong, who also set a PR of 3:53.35.

" I wanted to win the Emsley Carr Mile, this is important, I thank the fans, without them we cannot do what we do!" noted Lagat in a post-race flash quote given to meet organizers.

Courtesy of media partner flotrack.org, here's the post race interview with Lagat:



Mountlake Terrace's Brad Walker, in his first competition since the USA Championships in Eugene last month, failed to clear his opening height of 5.55 meters (18-2 1/2).

In her first major competition since winning the national championships last month, Vancouver’s Kara Patterson finished ninth in the women’s javelin, throwing 54.18 meters (177-9).

Complete results from the Aviva London Grand Prix meet can be accessed here.

NOTE: Special thanks to Larry Eder from runblogrun.com & The Running Network for quotes and race splits.