Meb Keflezighi

Residence: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Hometown: Asmara, Eritrea
Age on race day: 36

Best Qualifying Performance: 2:09:13, New York, 2011
PRs: Half-Marathon, 1:01:00 (2009); Marathon, 2:09:13 (2011)
Olympic Trials Marathon History: 8^th – 2:15:09 (2008); 2^nd – 2:11:47 (2004)

Career Highlights:

Silver Medalist, 2004 Olympic Marathon (2:11:29)
12^th – 2000 Olympic Games, 10,000m
1^st – 2009 ING New York City Marathon (2:09:29)
3^rd – 2006 Boston Marathon (2:09:56)
3^rd – 2005 ING New York City Marathon (2:09:56)
2009 USA Half Marathon Champion (1:01:25)
3-time USA 10,000m Champion (2000, 2002, 2004)
3-time USA 12K Cross Country Champion (2001, 2002, 2009)
6-time USA 15K Champion (2001-2004, 2006, 2007)

Additional Highlights:

2011

15^th – NYC Half, 1:02:52
1^st – Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon (1:02:40)
1^st – Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon (1:02:17)
6^th – ING New York City Marathon (2:09:13 PR)

2010

5^th – Boston Marathon (2:09:26)
1^st – Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon (1:01:45)
6^th – ING New York City Marathon (2:11:38)

2009
USA Half Marathon Champion (1:01:25)
USA Cross Country Champion 12K
9^th – Flora London Marathon (2:09:21)
USA 7 Mile Champion
1^st – Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon (1:01:00 PR)
1^st – ING New York City Marathon (2:09:29)

Of Note:

Born in Asmara, Eritrea, Keflezighi (Ka-FLEZ-gee) and his family left the city when he was only three months old, living in remote villages to escape warfare between the Eritreans and Ethiopians. Famine and drought sometimes led the boy to eat dirt … In 1981, his father fled to Khartoum for political reasons, ending up in Italy and sending for his family. They moved to San Diego in 1987, and Meb became a U.S. citizen in 1998 … One of 11 children … He and his wife, Yordanos, have three daughters: Sara, Fiyori and Yohana … In 2004, became the first American man to win an Olympic medal in the marathon since Frank Shorter’s silver in 1976 Montreal … Had first date with Yordanos right after landing from Athens in 2004, at an Olive Garden near her home in Tampa, FL; presented her with flowers that he received on the Olympic medal stand … Two-time Olympian (2000, 2004) … 20-time USA champion … Coach Bob Larsen (also at UCLA) … Mammoth Track Club member … In 2009, became first American to win the New York City Marathon since Alberto Salazar in 1982 … autobiography “Run to Overcome” published in November 2010.

Twitter: @runmeb