Bernard Lagat could break all the masters records

The winningest Wanamaker Mile champion ever, Bernard Lagat, will return to the Armoury to try for his ninth win in the iconic race on Saturday.

The American middle distance star won in 2001, 2003 and every year between 2005 and 2010. He also, shortly before the end of 2014, rolled over into a new decade. He’s now 40 years old and in a new age bracket for masters racing.

Having started an assault on the 40+ records in Boston last week and still among the world’s best, the four-time Olympian seems set to shatter tons of records this year.

At the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on Feb. 7, Lagat ran 7:48.33 to break the 40+ indoor 3,000m record by over ten seconds. What else could he break? A lot.

It seems likely that Lagat, seemingly in good shape, could break every masters record from 1,500m up to 5,000m, and possibly the 800m.

The 800m record stands at 1:48.22. Lagat’s most recent race over that distance was 1:46.82, which he ran in July of 2009. This year, six years will have passed, enough time for him to maybe not have shot at it.

The 1,500m record is 3:42.02. In 2013, Lagat ran 3:36.36, handily under the record.

Getting farther, the inevitability of Lagat breaking records solidifies further. The 3,000m record he already bested easily in Boston, albeit indoor. Last summer he also ran a full ten seconds faster outdoors than he did indoors last weekend.

The 5,000m record stands at 13:43.15, a full 37 seconds slower than he ran at world championships last August.

So, how many records will the 40-year-old American break this season? It might depend on which distances he choses to race.