Meb Keflezighi

Meb Keflezighi is a professional long distance runner.http://marathonmeb.com/about-meb/ The fourth child of Russom and Awetash Keflezighi, Mebratom “Meb” Keflezighi was born in Asmara, Eritrea on May 5, 1975.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1105319/1/index.htm Meb’s father, a member of the Eritrean Liberation Front, left Eritrea as a political refugee in 1981.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1105319/2/index.htm In 1987, Russom Keflezighi was able to secure a passage for Meb and his siblings to immigrate to America.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1105319/2/index.htm Mebratom became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America in 1998. http://marathonmeb.com/about-meb/ He has since competed for the U.S. Olympic Team in two summer Olympic games, wining a silver medal in the men’s marathon in Athens in 2004.http://marathonmeb.com/about-meb/ In 2009, he won the New York City Marathon.http://marathonmeb.com/about-meb/

In 2010, Meb Keflezighi and co-author Dick Patrick wrote Run to Overcome: The Inspiring Story of an American Champion's Long-Distance Quest to Achieve a Big Dream.http://www.runtoovercome.com/index.php/product/run-to-overcome/ An autobiographical story about Meb’s life, Run to Overcome details Meb’s journey from war-torn Eritrea to southern California, covering his personal life and family in addition to his failures and successes in athletics.http://www.runtoovercome.com/index.php/product/run-to-overcome/ Meb is sponsored by Nike, Sony Walkman, Generation UCAN and Powerbar.http://marathonmeb.com/about-meb/

Meb Keflezighi attended San Diego High School, where he participated in both cross country and track and field.http://www.sdhoc.com/newswire/san-diegans-elsewhere/meb-keflezighi-professional-star-of-the-year/ In 1994, he won California state titles in the 1,600 meters and 32,000 meters.http://www.sdhoc.com/newswire/san-diegans-elsewhere/meb-keflezighi-professional-star-of-the-year/ Meb earned a scholarship from UCLA and ran under coach Bob Larsen.http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Keflezighi_Mebrahtom.asp In 1997, he won NCAA titles in the indoor and outdoor 5,000 meters, the outdoor 10,000 meters and was a cross country national champion.http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Keflezighi_Mebrahtom.asp

During Keflezighi’s professional career, he became the U.S. 10,000 meter champion in 2000, 2002 and 2004, set the American 10,000 meter record (27:13:98), placed second in the 2004 ING New York City Marathon and third in the 2005 ING New York City Marathon.http://marathonmeb.com/about-meb/career/ In 2009, Meb Keflezighi became the first American since 1982 to win the New York City Marathon, finishing the course in a personal best time of 2:09:15.http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Keflezighi_Mebrahtom.asp The win gave him the U.S. marathon championship and $200,000 in total prize earnings.http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Keflezighi_Mebrahtom.asp

After winning the U.S. Olympic trials 10,000 meter race, Meb Keflezighi competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he finished 12th in the 10,000 meters.http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Keflezighi_Mebrahtom.asp In 2004, he won the 10,000 meters at the Olympic trials and finished runner-up in the marathon Olympic trials, although he chose to compete in the marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics.http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Keflezighi_Mebrahtom.asp In Athens, Keflezighi won the silver medal in the marathon, finishing second to Italy’s Stefano Baldini.http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/2004/ATH/mens-marathon.html Keflezighi was the first American to medal in a men’s Olympic marathon race since Frank Shorter won a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/2010/09/features/meb-keflezighi-2_2720