Lagat siblings set for New York City Marathon 'reunion'

Siblings, Kenya's Viola Cheptoo and United States' Bernard Lagat will this weekend be reunited by the sport they love so much, athletics and more specifically New York Marathon. 

Cheptoo, making her marathon debut in the city of New York, the same course her elder brother Lagat made his Marathon debut in 2018, will have him cheering her on as he makes a debut of his own, in the broadcast booth. 

The five-time Olympian, Lagat, will join fellow Olympic medalist and American record holder Deena Kastor and fellow Olympian Carrie Tollefson as part of the broadcast team for the 50th edition of the New York City Marathon set for Sunday November 7. 

Lagat competed at every summer Olympics on the track from 2000 to 2016, winning a silver and bronze medal in the 1,500 meters in 2004 and 2000, respectively. He ran the TCS New York City Marathon in 2018, finishing as the top men’s masters athlete. 

“In 2008, I got to watch the TCS New York City Marathon from a lead vehicle and in 2018 I ran New York for my debut marathon,” Lagat said in an interview.

“I am excited that in 2021, I get to see the race unfold from yet another angle; in the broadcast booth. I hope my experiences as an athlete can add a different perspective to the race for those watching throughout New York City and across the country.”

Cheptoo told Runner's World that when she learned her brother would commentate on her debut marathon, she was reminded of the enthusiasm she felt during the summer of 2016 when she and Lagat both competed at the Rio Olympics.

The brother represented Team USA with a fifth-place finish in the 5,000 meters, and she represented Kenya in the 1500 meters.

In 2016, she also competed for Kenya at the 2016 World Indoor Championships and finished eighth in the 1500-meter indoor final in Portland, Oregon.

After the Rio Games, Cheptoo got injured and switched coaches in 2017, moving to Iten to join a training group led by coach Julien Di Maria. In her return to consistent running, he encouraged her to embrace longer runs to build a strong base of mileage. 

In February 2020, she made her 21km debut at the Napoli City Half Marathon in Italy, where she won in 1:06:47.

Less than a month later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing major shutdowns around the world, including the postponement of Tokyo Olympics Games. 

“Last year there was nothing, there were no races, and I was really frustrated,” she said.

At first, Cheptoo used the Tokyo Games as motivation to keep training at a high level, but a standout performance earlier this year shifted her plans.

On June 12, she finished second to Sara Hall in the New York Mini 10K, finishing in 31:39. Cheptoo said after the race, organizers from New York Road Runners approached her about the possibility of making her marathon debut in New York City this fall. 

After consulting with her coach, Cheptoo accepted the offer and adjusted her training to prepare for her first 26.2 in the five boroughs.

And on September 12, she placed sixth (1:09:13) in the half marathon at the Adizero Road to Records in Herzogenaurach, Germany during a base phase of training.