Posted: February 11, 2009  :

(RRW) Athletics: Lagat Impresses With Fast Mile In Liévin

From David Monti © 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com Double world champion Bernard Lagat continued to have an impressive indoor season, winning his third consecutive race and posting the fastest time in the world this year for the mile at the 20th Meeting Pas de Calais in Liévin last night. Lagat beat home country favorite Mehdi Baala who, remarkably, was making his debut at the distance, 3:51.34 to 3:52.51. That's the 9th fastest time ever posted indoors, a meet record, and the fastest in the world since Lagat's own American record 3:49.89 recorded in Fayetteville, Ark., in 2005. Baala's mark was a French indoor record. Lagat's indoor season continues in Birmingham, England, on Feb. 21, where he'll run the 1500m. In the other distance running event of the evening, Kenyan Viola Kibiwot won the 3000m in 8:52.35, beating Portuguese star Jessica Augusto (8:53.04). Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest