Meb Keflezighi
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 Meb Keflezighi at the 2009 London Marathon |
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| Personal information | |||||||||
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| Residence | Mammoth Lakes, California | ||||||||
| Date of birth | 5 May 1975 | ||||||||
| Place of birth | Asmara, Eritrea | ||||||||
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 127 pounds (58 kg) | ||||||||
| Website | http://www.runmeb.com | ||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||
| Country |  United States |
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| Event(s) | Marathon,10000 m | ||||||||
| College/university team | UCLA Bruins | ||||||||
| Club | Mammoth Track Club | ||||||||
| Coached by | Bob Larsen | ||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||
| Worlds | 2001, 10000 m 23rd 2003, 10000 m, 16th |
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| National finals | NCAA cross-country NCAA 10,000 m (outdoors) NCAA 5,000 m (indoors) NCAA 5,000 m (outdoors) |
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| Olympics | 2000 10000 m, 12th, 2004 Marathon  Silver |
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| Personal best(s) | Marathon: 2:09:15, 10000 m: 27:13.98 |
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Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi (pronounced /mɛb kəˈflɛz.ɡi/; Ge'ez: መብራህቶም ክፍልእዝጊ mebrāhtōm kifl'igzī), born May 5, 1975 in Asmara, Eritrea) is an American athlete specializing in long distance running. He and his family were refugees from Eritrea via Italy to the United States, when he was age 12.[1] He began running while in an American Junior High School in San Diego, going on to win both the 1600 meters and 3200 meters at the CIF California State Championships in 1994 for San Diego High School [2] See youtube highlights. The distinction of Meb's homegrown American running history needs to be made because of the history of other African born elite athletes making changes in domicile and citizenship for largely competitive reasons[3] . He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1998, the same year in which he graduated from UCLA. While at UCLA Meb received numerous All-American awards and other accolades.[1] He won four NCAA championships during the 1996-97 season, including the cross-country title, the 10,000 meters outdoors and the 5,000 meters indoors and outdoors titles in track.[4]
In the 2004 Summer Olympics, Keflezighi finished second in the men's marathon, winning a silver medal in a personal season's best time of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 29 seconds. Keflezighi finished 42 seconds ahead of Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima, who was leading the marathon until he was pushed off the course by protester Cornelius Horan.[5] This was the first medal won by an American man in the Olympic marathon since Frank Shorter won the gold in the 1972 Olympics and took the silver medal in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.[1][5]
His fastest times for some standard distances are 3:42.29 for 1,500 meters, set in 1998; 13:11.77 for 5,000 meters, set in 2000; 27:13.98 for 10,000 meters, set in 2001 (a still-standing American record); and 2:09:15 for the marathon, set in 2009 at the New York City Marathon.
Keflezighi lives and trains in Mammoth Lakes, California, and is a member of the Mammoth Track Club.[6]
In 2007, Keflezighi suffered from dehydration and broke his hip during the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon trials in Central Park. He finished in eighth place and did not qualify for the team. During the race, his friend and training partner Ryan Shay died of a heart attack.[7]
He won the 2009 New York City Marathon, setting a personal best of 2:09:15. Keflezighi was the first American citizen to win the marathon since 1982.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "American Meb Keflezighi Wins NYC Marathon". Associated Press (CBS News.com). http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/01/ap/national/main5484455.shtml. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ "Dyestatcal CIF State Meet results, 1994". http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/1994/stateres.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
- ^ Layden, Tim (October 31, 2005). ""I Am An American"". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1105319/1/index.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ^ UCLA's Meb Keflezighi Wins New York City Marathon, Associated Press, via UCLABruins.com, November 1, 2009
- ^ a b Clarey, Christopher (August 30, 2004). "SUMMER 2004 GAMES: MARATHON; A Spectator Disrupts The Marathon With a Shove". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/30/sports/summer-2004-games-marathon-a-spectator-disrupts-the-marathon-with-a-shove.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ Gambaccini, Peter (October 21, 2009). "A Brief Chat With Meb Keflezighi". Runner's Wrold. http://dailynews.runnersworld.com/2009/10/a-brief-chat-with-meb-keflezighi.html. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ Patrick, Dick (October 27, 2009). "Marathoner Keflezighi carries somber memories of New York". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-10-27-keflezighi-new-york_N.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ Zinser, Lynn (November 1, 2009). "Keflezighi’s ‘U.S.A.’ Breaks the Tape". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/sports/02men.html?_r=1&hp. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
[edit] External links
- Official website
- IAAF profile for Meb Keflezighi
[edit] Interviews
- Meb Keflezighi: Pre-Olympic Trials Podcast Interview
- TheFinalSprint.com interview with Olympic medalist & running hero Meb Keflezighi
- Flotrack Interviews of Meb Keflezighi
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Marílson Gomes dos Santos |
New York City Men's Marathon Winner 2009 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
