Bernard Lagat & Ingvill Måkestad Bovin in field for next week's Fifth Avenue Mile...

NEW YORK--Two-time Olympic medalist and multiple World Championships medal winner Bernard Lagat of the United States will continue his quest to add this crown to his glittering trophy case against a stellar field at the Fifth Avenue Mile on Saturday, September 24th

The invitational mens race will feature defending champion Amine Laalou of Morocco and reigning U.S. 800-meter champion Nick Symmonds.

Lagat, the Washington State alum who now resides in Tuscon, Arizona, finished second in 2010 and 2008 and was fourth in 2009 in the race down one of the most famous thoroughfares in the world.

"I said I'm coming until I win it, so this year I'm going to win it and will be prepared for that," said Lagat, 36, who took the silver medal at the World Championships 5000 meters this month. "I'm going to be tough to beat in New York."

Former Husky Ingvill Måkestad Bovin (above/photo by Paul Merca), who finished sixth at the world championships in Daegu in the 1500, and is the Norwegian record holder at 800m, will face world champ Jenny Simpson, and silver medalist Hannah England. This marks her first race on American soil since competing at the University of Washington during the 2003-04 academic season.

The Fifth Avenue Mile begins near East 80th Street and finishes at East 60th Street. The professional women's race is scheduled to start at 12:50 p.m., followed by the professional men's race at 1:05 p.m. A total prize purse of $30,000 for the men's and women's professional races will be offered, with the two winners each receiving $5,000. The iconic road race has been on the NYRR calendar since 1981.

NOTE: The New York Road Runners contributed to this report.