Bio
During
the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Mebrahtom Keflezighi (pronounced
Kef-lez-ghee) secured a place in history. In one of the most dramatic
Olympic Marathons ever, Meb won a Silver Medal despite being ranked
39th out of 100 of the world’s best marathoners. As the Silver Medal winner for the USA, Meb attracted new fans around
the globe as he was awarded his Silver Medal in front on millions of
viewers. Seventy days later, Meb would stun the track and field world
by finishing second in the prestigious 2004 ING New York City marathon—a
feat last achieved by an American in 1993.
“You
make us so proud Meb!” a woman with an American flag yelled from the
stands as Meb crossed the finish line of the ING NYC Marathon. This time, Meb had finished third at the 2005 ING NYC Marathon, and
represented the United States on the medal stand for the second year
in a row. After years of racking up national honors, Meb has vaulted
himself and his truly inspiring story into the international spotlight.
Commonly considered "the
top US distance runner” by USA Track & Field, Meb has astonished
coaches ever since he ran a 5:20 mile in junior high. Meb’s athletic
success at the high school level and 4.0 GPA attracted the attention
of the best universities in the nation. Coach Bob Larsen offered
Meb a full scholarship to the University of California-Los Angeles,
a rare opportunity for a distance runner. As an undergraduate
at UCLA, Meb won four NCAA titles in one year. Meb’s accomplishments
have earned him the title as "The Greatest Distance Runner in UCLA
History." Meb’s special relationship with Coach Larsen started
in 1994, when Meb was a freshman and continues today.
After
Meb earned his B.A. in Communication Studies with a specialization in
Business from UCLA, he pursued a career as a professional runner. During his transition from collegiate to professional running, Meb notified
his potential sponsors of his goal to be one of the best distance runners
in the world. As a result of his athletic potential, great personality
and million-dollar smile, Meb has been sponsored by Nike since 1998,
and has extended his contract until 2010. Meb’s persistence
has enabled him to focus on his athletic development from a national
class runner to one of the best in the world.
Meb
has persevered through stints of injuries after college and during the
2008 season to achieve remarkable success. This spirit of endurance
is fueled by his parents’ fervent determination to save their family
from the gruesome 30-year war between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Knowing
that his life was threatened by the Ethiopian regime, Meb’s father
fled the country and worked for four years as a laborer to save his
family. The family reunited in Italy where they lived for two years
before arriving in San Diego in the late 1980s. Despite the language
barriers and life as immigrants, Meb and his ten siblings have created
their own legacy by making education their number one priority. Among
the children who are out of high school, they hold six undergraduate
degrees, an MBA, an MD, a JD, a Stanford University graduate, and current
students at UCSD and UC Berkeley. In 1998, Meb became a US citizen
but still possesses dual-citizenship with Eritrea. In international
competition, Meb represents the USA, including in two Olympic Games
and several world championships.
For many Eritreans, Meb symbolizes
what their families fought for in the war with Ethiopia: the freedom
to succeed. For long distance running fans, Meb is a role model who
has rejuvenated interest in the sport, attracting new fans in the same
vein as Tiger Woods in golf and the Williams sisters in tennis. To the American public, Meb symbolizes what is possible when we take
advantage of the resources and opportunities around us. According
to Ghebre Selassie Mehreteab, the CEO of the NHP Foundation, “Meb
is an inspiration to all new Americans and his story demonstrates the
power of the American Dream.” CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Source: www.usatf.org
2009: Won New York City Marathon, first American in 27 years to do so. After an injury-filled 2008, Meb came back to win the 2009 US Half Marathon
Championship in Houston, in a PR 61:25. USATF Cross Country Champion
(12k), 36:06. Meb ran a personal best in the London Marathon to
finish 9th in one of the most competitive marathon fields
ever assembled, 2:09:21. Meb also won the USATF 7 Mile Championship-
Bix 7, 32:25.
2008: 2nd at
Falmouth Road Race. Sidelined majority of year with injury, focus
was getting healthy.
2007: 1st at
Gate River Run, 3rd at US Half Marathon Championships, 4th at Bix 7, 4th at Beach to Beacon, 2nd at Falmouth
Road Race, 8th place US Olympic Trials (Marathon), Best of
27:41.26 in 10k in Brussels, Belgium.
2006:
1st at Gate River Run 15k, 3rd at debut in Boston
Marathon, 2nd at US Nationals 10k, 5th at Bix
7, 2nd at inaugural NYC Half-Marathon (1:01:28). Meb has
been featured in a nationally-run MasterCard commercial year-round.
2005:
3rd at New York City Marathon (2:09:56)…2nd at USATF Outdoor
Championships 10,000m… Best of 13:20.71 in 5,000m in Oslo, Norway.
2004:
Olympic marathon silver medalist (2:11:29)…1st at Olympic
Trials 10,000m (27:36.49); runner-up at Marathon Olympic Trials (2:11:47)…2nd at New York City Marathon (2:09:53PR)…1st at USA 15 km
championships (43:18)…1st at USA 8 km championships (22:16)…ranked
#4 in world by T&FN…best of 2:11:53PR.
2003: Runner-up at USA
Outdoor 10,000m (27:57.59)…16th at World Outdoors 10,000m (28:35.08)…2nd
at USA XC Champs 12km (38:34)…11th at World XC Champs 12km (37:16)…12th
in Stockholm 5000m (13:20.50, U.S. Leader)…ran 2:10:03PR at LaSalle
Banks Chicago Marathon; ranked #2 U.S. at 5,000m, #2 in 10,000m by
T&FN…bests of 13:20.50 & 27:57.59.
2002: USA Outdoor
10,000m champ…ran 27:20.15 10km at Stanford on May 3…won U.S. 12km
Cross Country Championship (35:45),1st at U.S. 15km Championships (42:49)…14th
at World Cross Country Championships 12km (36:09)…9th at New York
City Marathon (2:12:35)…at 5km he ran 13:21.87 in Rome and 13:30.05
at Prefontaine Classic…ranked #9 in the world at 10,000m & #1
in U.S. at 5,000m & 10,000m by T&FN…bests of 13:21.87AL &
27:20.15 AL.
2001: Set new American record for 10,000m May 4 at
Cardinal Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., with a time of 27:13.98,
a personal best by almost 40 seconds … his performance broke Mark
Nenow’s 1986 AR …2nd in 10,000m at USA Outdoors (28:39.64)…USA
12km XC Winter Nationals Champ…23rd at IAAF World Championships (28:44.48…13th
in 12km at World XC Champs (40:46)…won U.S. 15km Championship…ranked
#2 in U.S. by T&FN…bests of 13:23.16 and 27:13.98.
2000: Won Olympic Trials 10,000m in a 28:03.32...made the 2000 Olympic final
despite having the flu, where he placed 12th (27:53.63PR)...top U.S.
finisher in men’s long race at World Cross Country Championships,
26th in 36:45...ranked #1 U.S. at 10,000m, 3rd in 5,000m by T&FN...Bests
of 13:11.77 (at Heusden) and 27:53.63.
1999: 4th at USA Outdoors
10,000m...5th at Pan American Games 10 km)...bests of 13:40.86 for 5,000m
and 28:29.27 for 10,000m.
1998:
4th at NCAA (5,000)...2nd at Pac-10, 4th at NCAA and 4th at USA Championships...bests
of 3:42.29 (1500), 4:02.86 (mile), 13:26.85 (5,000), 28:16.79 (10,000).
1997: Won NCAA Outdoor
5,000m and 10,000m, Indoor 5,000m and men’s Cross Country Championships...bests
of 3:43.95, 13:33.97 and 28:26.55.
Agent Contact
Merhawi Keflezighi
H.A.W.I. Management
Handling Adversity With Integrity
8789 Betelgeuse Way
San Diego, CA 92126
(310) 895-6438 (mobile)
