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San Diego marathoner aims for win in Boston

By Tawny & Nyla McCray

April 10, 2006

San Diego--Olympic silver medallist Mebrahtom Keflezighi has one thing on his mind – to win a major marathon.

“I’ve placed 2^nd and 3^rd in the New York City Marathon, 2^nd in the Olympics and 2^nd in Nationals,” Keflezighi said. “Now I want to run for the win.”

Mebrahtom, or Meb as he is affectionately known, grew up in the Eritrean city of Asmara in East Africa, immigrated to the United States in 1987 and became a US Citizen in 1998.

He began running at age 12 and in Jr. high school impressed his PE coach by running a five-minute-and-twenty-second mile. Since then he has strived to be the best long distance runner at every level- high school, college, the US and eventually the world.

He said his proudest accomplishment was winning the silver medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the first won by an American marathoner in 28 years. He admits he used to carry the medal in his front pocket but after setting off several airport alarms he now has it safely tucked away at the bank.

A mere 70 days after Athens, he capped off the year with a 2^nd place finish in the New York City Marathon.

He credits his success to everyone who’s helped him get where he is now, including his coach Bob Larsen who’s been with him since his UCLA days over ten years ago. He said the two of them share a relationship based on mutual respect and patience.

Meb said Larsen’s advice to ‘take it gradual and you’ll get better and better as you get older and wiser and stronger’ has proven to be true.

He said running is a pure joy but revealed it does get lonely once in a while.

“There’s the guy on the bike and a guy in the car, but other than that, it’s 26 miles and I might not see another person.”

He’s also struggled with his fair share of injuries, including problems with his knees, Achilles, hamstring, and a ruptured quad, which made him do something he’s never done before – stop during a race.

When he’s not running, Meb says he enjoys keeping up with family, which includes five sisters and five brothers (Younger brother Merhawi is his agent.) and old friends. He said one of his regrets in 2004 was not being able to make his 10-year high school reunion.

In his personal life, Meb is a newlywed to fellow Eritrean Yordanos Asgedom, whom he met in the summer of 2004, and father to one-month-old daughter Sara.

“She’s changing everyday,” said the proud papa, “but I think she has my lips and my wife’s eyes and nose.”

He said he’d eventually like to put his communications degree to work as a motivational speaker, but for now is keeping his sights on Boston and the 2008 Olympics.

“Hopefully, I’ll bring home another medal,” he said. “Preferably the gold.”

Check out Meb on his web site, www.runmeb.com. You can watch the Boston Marathon live on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) on April 17 from 11:30am-2:30pm Eastern Time.

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