Meb Keflezighi already knew that life could change for the better. In 1987, his parents moved their 11 children out of Eritrea when a war with Ethiopia would have forced the boys into the military. At first they moved to Italy but relocated to San Diego. In 1998 Keflezighi became a United States citizen.
The move that Keflezighi made today in the 24th mile of the ING New York City Marathon proved smart too. He made his charge for victory, pulling clear of his last challenger, Kenya’s Robert Cheruiyot, and went on to become the first U.S. winner of the men’s race since Alberto Salazar in 1982.
Once again life changed for the better.
The last time Keflezighi ran a marathon in New York, it was the worst day of his running career. At the trials for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, held in Central Park in 2007, he fell ill a few days before the race, was hit by calf cramps caused by dehydration, and broke his right hip. He finished 8th, and the 2004 Athens Olympic silver medalist was out of the team for Beijing.
Worse followed.
Keflezighi collapsed after hearing that Ryan Shay, his friend and training partner, had died during the race because of heart-related problems. Today the runners passed the spot in Central Park where Shay passed away. ““I did this when I was there -- the cross -- that’s what it was for,” Keflezighi said.
For a few days after the 2007 race, Keflezighi had to walk on all fours in his hotel room. His legs were swollen so badly that he could not fly to Shay’s funeral. He was diagnosed later as having a stress fracture of the hip.
“Life is about ups and downs,” Keflezighi said. “I hope to be an example when the going gets tough -- that there is light at the end of the tunnel if you keep your hopes high.”
Following three-time winner Salazar as the first U.S. champion of New York for 27 years is ironic given that Keflezighi had written to him 11 years ago suggesting changes needed to improve American distance running. “To visualize that, and to be the first American to win since him, is a big honor,” Keflezighi said.
“I said: ‘You know what my accomplishments were in high school and at UCLA. Give me an opportunity to lead the USA -- he was working for Nike -- give me the chance to run as a professional instead of going to get a part-time job’.”
Ryan Hall, the second-placed American today, in 4th place, is a close neighbor of Keflezighi in Mammoth, Calif. They don’t train together, they don’t share a coach, but they are good friends.
“If there was one other guy in the race I wanted to win, it would definitely have been Meb,” Hall said. “I’ve learned so much from him. I feel like he’s an older brother to me, so it was neat for him to win.
“Just seeing him go through those hard times, and a lot of people were starting to write him off, saying he’s older, he’s had to many injuries – to see him come back and win here was huge for him.”
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