Lagat, who will be competing in the 5,000 at the USA Outdoor Championships at Drake Stadium June 25, ran a strategic race and finished third in 12:54.12 to break the previous American record of 12:56.27 set by Dathan Ritzenhein last year.
Lagat becomes the second athlete to have set an American record in a track and field event within the last week who will be performing at the USA Outdoor Championships. Two-time Drake Relays champion Chaunte' Lowe set an American record in the women's high jump at 6 feet 8.25 inches May 30 in Cottbus, Germany.
Lagat won the 3,000 at the 2010 World Indoor Championships and is a two-time Olympic and three-time World Outdoor medalist. He finished second in the invitational mile at the 2010 Drake Relays.
Imane Merga from Ethiopia won the race in 12:53.81 and 2008 World Indoor 3,000 champion Tariku Bekele from Ethiopia was second in 12:53.97.
Lowe finished as the runner-up in Oslo to reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion Blanka Vlasic at 6-7.
Two-time World Indoor champion Lolo Jones, a four-time Drake Relays champ, won the women's 100 hurdles in a season's best 12.66.
Reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion Christian Cantwell, a seven-time Drake Relays champion, won the men's shot put with a heave of 69 feet 11 inches. 2007 World Outdoor champion Reese Hoffa finished fourth at 67-10.75, and two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson was seventh with at 65-4.
For more information and complete results from the 2010 ExxonMobil Bislett Games, visit http://www.diamondleague.com/Home/.
