Bernard Lagat’s 5K American Road Record From The Carlsbad 5K Will Not Be Ratified As Course Was Found To Be 13.5-Feet Short

Press Release
July 18, 2014

San Diego, CA – July 18, 2014 – Bernard Lagat’s historic 13-minute, 19-second performance at the Carlsbad 5000 in March will not stand as a new American road record after race organizers learned that this year’s course did not measure the full 5,000 meters.

While watching a replay of the March 30 race, Executive Race Director Tracy Sundlun realized that the turnaround at the south end of Carlsbad Boulevard was not at the proper location, ordered a remeasure and found the course was short by a total of 13.5 feet.

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“We apologize from the bottom of our hearts to each and every one of the participants,” said Sundlun. “This is a giant kick in the gut. After 28 years, to have a one of our race officials mistake a new utility company surveyor’s mark for the turn-around makes us all want to cry. We have paid Bernard his American Record bonus as he did his job and did it superbly. We didn’t do ours, but I am humbled that Bernard has accepted our apologies so graciously and has committed to come back next year and do it all over again.”

With Lagat’s 13:19 not qualifying as the American record, Marc Davis’ time of 13:24, set in 1996 at the Carlsbad 5000, still stands as the U.S. road best.

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“It was a fantastic race, and I was so happy to break the record at a race with such a legacy,” said Lagat. “But these things happen in road racing. It’s not a track so there is margin for error every time. I’m looking forward to coming back next year, and I hope many runners will be there with me for the event’s 30th anniversary.”

Lagat is scheduled to run another 5K road race in September and said he now hopes to challenge Davis’ 18-year-old record there.

The 30th Carlsbad 5000 is scheduled for Sunday, March 29, 2015.

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