NEW YORK, December 6, 2011 - Armory Foundation president Dr. Norb Sander announced today that Bernard Lagat, owner of a record eight Wanamaker Mile titles, will compete in the 5,000-meter event during the February 11, 2012 Millrose Games at the Armory New Balance Track & Field Center.

``The 5,000-meters at the Millrose Games at the Armory is a race I'm really excited about,'' Lagat said. ``Galen (Rupp) broke my U.S. record so of course I have to try and get it back.

``I had a really good run at the Armory when I broke the U.S. two-mile record so I'm looking forward to coming back for another good run.''

In February in Birmingham, England, Rupp surpassed Lagat's 2009 mark by a mere 6/100^thof a second.

The night before on the Armory's ``world's fastest track'', Lagat was turning heads in the New York Road Runners' Deuce Record Challenge. Lagat finished with an 8:10.07 breaking the American indoor two-mile mark.

``It is very exciting to have Bernard continue his legacy at the Millrose Games,'' said Millrose Games meet director Ray Flynn. ``The 5,000 meters promises to be one of the meet's highlights.''

Lagat won his first Wanamaker Mile title at the 2001 Millrose Games. He next won in 2003 before recording six consecutive Wanamaker victories from 2005-2010. Besides being owner of the American Indoor two-mile record, Lagat is the country's record holder in the 1,500m, mile, and 3,000m as well as the Outdoor 1,500m, 3,000m and 5,000m.

He'll have a great opportunity to regain his 5,000m Indoor record.

Lagat, an eight-time Wanamaker Mile champion,

will go for Millrose Games 5,000m title.

Photo: Erki Pictures

In the 1981 Millrose Games, Tanzania's Suleiman Nyambui recorded the World Indoor 5,000-meter record, just surpassing Alberto Salazar, who broke the American Indoor mark. Nyambui's time is still a Millrose Games record.

The country's top men's and women's track & field athletes along with the finest college and high school student-athletes will showcase their talents in the Millrose Games.

Lagat is among a who's who list of track & field participants confirmed for the 105^th Millrose Games.

Contender for the Olympic Gold medal and current Outdoor High Jump World Champion Jesse Williams and Olympic Gold Medal challenger and reigning Indoor and Outdoor Long Jump World Champion Brittney Reese join 2008 Olympic Gold medalist Allyson Felix and World Champion/2008 USA Olympian Jennifer Simpson as confirmed athletes in the nation's premier indoor track & field event. Felix will compete in the Women's 60m event and Simpson will participate in the Millrose Games' first New York Road Runner's Wanamaker Metric Mile for Women.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.armorytrack.com. Click on to Millrose Games for more information, including ticket prices and seating chart. Note: there is an 8 ticket limit for online sales. For group sales of more than 8 tickets please call the Group Sales at (818) 276-6790 (818-ARMORY-0).