LAGAT WITHDRAWS FROM USA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH INJURY
By David Monti
(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Double world champion Bernard Lagat has withdrawn from this weekend's USA Indoor Championships in Boston because of an injury he suffered at the Aviva Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham, England, last Saturday.

"He went over heavily on his ankle on the curb only 20 meters after the start in Birmingham," explained his long-time manager, James Templeton in a text message to Race Results Weekly.  "He struggled through the race and was in considerable pain, since."

Templeton said medical scans of the ankle did not reveal any significant damage, "but Boston was not possible, unfortunately."

Lagat, who won three of his four indoor races this season, including his record-tying seventh Wanamaker Mile title, was to make his first appearance at the USA Indoor Championships.

"A pity but nothing to do," concluded Templeton.  "We're just releived it's nothing serious."