U.S. man wins for 1st time since '82
NEW YORK -- That day in Central Park two years ago was shaping up as a triumphant symbol of the resurgence in U.S. distance running Meb Keflezighi helped inspire. It ended with Keflezighi suffering from a stress fracture in his right hip and, far worse, an aching heart.
Keflezighi was back Sunday, wiping away tears after the New York City Marathon -- for his historic victory for his adoptive country, for his recovery from his hip injury and for Ryan Shay, his friend who collapsed and died at the U.S. Olympic trials in New York in 2007.
Keflezighi, 34, became the first U.S. man since 1982 to win the New York City Marathon, the latest twist in the story of a family that fled war in Africa to thrive in a new home.
''It can't get any better,'' said Keflezighi, whose time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 15 seconds was good enough to beat runner-up Robert Kipkoech of Kenya by 41 seconds.
Keflezighi won the silver medal in the marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics, becoming the first U.S. man to medal in the event since 1976. But the race Sunday proved how much depth U.S. marathoning now boasts. With the event doubling as the national championship, six U.S. men finished in the top 10 for the first time since 1979. Among them was former Wheeling High School star Jorge Torres, who finished seventh in 2:13.
Eleven years ago, Keflezighi wrote a letter to Alberto Salazar, who had been the last U.S. man to win the New York City Marathon. Salazar was working with Nike, and Keflezighi told him U.S. distance runners needed the funding to allow them to train full time if they hoped to thrive.
That same year, Keflezighi became a U.S. citizen. He was born in Eritrea, growing up in a hut with no electricity. Soldiers would look for boys 12 and older to drag off to war.
When he was 10, he and his family moved to Italy. Two years later, they came to the United States. Keflezighi began running while he was in junior high in San Diego, then went on to star at UCLA.
''Definitely wearing that USA jersey got the crowd going,'' he said. ''Definitely wore it with big honor and pride.''
Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia was the women's winner in 2:28:52, eight seconds faster than Ludmila Petrova of Russia. Two-time defending champion Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, who was hobbled by tendinitis behind her left knee, was fourth in 2:29:27. Magdalena Lewy Boulet was the top U.S. finisher, coming in sixth in 2:32:17.
AP