Posted: September 9, 2004

Athletics: Keflezighi to run ING New York City Marathon

2004 Olympic Games men's marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi has announced his intention to run the ING New York City Marathon 2004 on Sunday, November 7.

Keflezighi finished just 34 seconds behind the winner, Italy's Stefano Baldini, in 2 hours, 11 minutes 29 seconds. His medal is the first for an American male at the marathon distance since 1976, when Frank Shorter claimed the silver at the Montreal Games. Keflezighi will continue to follow in Shorter's footsteps as he becomes only the second man to medal in the Olympic marathon and run the ING New York City Marathon in the same calendar year.

Keflezighi's Olympic teammate Deena Kastor also will compete in New York after winning the bronze medal in the women's marathon in Athens (2:27:20).

Keflezighi will toe the line with an outstanding American field at this year's ING New York City Marathon, including 3,000m and 5,000-meter national record-holder Bob Kennedy as well as fellow Olympians Dan Browne and Abdi Abdibrahim.

Profile:

Mebrahtom Keflezighi
Events: Distance
Height: 5-7
Weight: 127
PRs: 1500, 3:42.29 (1998); 5,000 13:11.77 (2000); 10,000 27:13.98 AR (2001) Marathon 2:10:03 (2003).
Born: May 5, 1975 at Asmara, Eritrea
Current Residence: Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
High School: San Diego (Calif.) '94
College: UCLA '98
Coach: Bob Larsen
Agent: Jos Hermens
Club: Nike

Career Highlights: 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist; 2000, 2004 Olympic Trials 10,000m champion; 2004 Marathon Olympic Trials runner-up; 12th in 10,000m at 2000 Olympics; 3-time U.S. 10,000m champ (2000, ’02, ’04); 2-time USA 12km XC champ (’01, ’02); 4-time U.S. 15 km champ (’01, ’02, ’04); 4-time NCAA champion; American 10,000m record holder; Olympic Trials 10,000m record holder; U.S. Championships 10,000m record holder.

At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens Meb Keflezighi became the first American man since 1976 to win an Olympic medal in the men's marathon, taking the silver at Panathenaiko Stadium. Keflezighi crossed the finish line under a full moon, running 2:11:29 to place second behind Stefano Baldini of Italy (2:10:55). The last American man to win an Olympic medal at the distance was Frank Shorter, who in 1976 won the silver. He was the 1972 gold medalist as well. Receiving his medal at Olympic Stadium during Closing Ceremonies, Keflezighi gave team USA its 25th medal of the Athens Olympics - the most successful Olympics for Team USA track & field since 1992. Since 2000, Keflezighi has established himself as one of the top two U.S. distance runners from 10 km to the marathon to 15 km, winning two U.S. XC titles, three 10,000m championships and a pair of U.S. 15 km road titles and breaking the AR at 10,000m (27:13.98) … Born in Eritrea, Keflezighi (pronounced Ka-FLEZ-gee) and his family moved to San Diego in 1987...one of a family of 11 children...applied for U.S. citizenship in 1997 not knowing if his native country of Eritrea would participate in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney...he lived in a village in Eritrea with no electricity, where his brothers hid in the bushes so they would not be forced to join the military to fight against Ethiopia…in 2002, he returned to his homeland for the first time…became a U.S. citizen on July 2, 1998...won four individual NCAA titles...battled tendonitis early in 2000...just edged out Alan Culpepper in the Olympic Trials 10,000m to win in a then-PR of 28:03.32...Keflezighi’s 13:11.77 at Heusden was the fastest U.S. 5,000 meter time in 2000... a member of Team USA California… trains at altitude (7,000 feet) at Mammoth Lakes, Calif., running 80-100 miles a week…was honorary team captain for the Houston Rockets at their home game on February 14, 2003, while in town for the USA Cross Country Championships…made his marathon debut at the 2002 New York City Marathon, finishing ninth in 2:12:35, but said he will stick with the 10 km for the immediate future. He is a member of Team USA Running

2004: Olympic marathon silver medalist (2:11:29)…1^st at Olympic Trials 10,000m (27:36.49); runner-up at Marathon Olympic Trials (2:11:47)…1^st at USA 15 km championships (43:18)…1^st at USA 8 km championships (22:16)…best of 2:11:29
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), edging Abdi Abdirahman in a photo finish…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 & 27:20.15AL.
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.
1996: 9th in NCAA 5,000m...bests of 13:37.0 and 29:55.75.
1995: 5th in NCAA 5,000m...best of 13:52.06.

Pilgrim named to Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports

Jill Pilgrim, USA Track & Field General Counsel and Director of Business Affairs, has been appointed by Indiana Governor Joe Kiernan to the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. Pilgrim will serve on the 13-person council through September 2, 2006.

The Council was created by the governor to promote physical activity and health in order to encourage healthy lifestyles for people of all ages. Its mission is "to provide all residents of the State of Indiana with fitness policy, leadership and healthy lifestyle education through the coordination of, and staging of, programs and special events."

Having joined USATF's national office in 1998, Pilgrim handles general corporate matters, supervises outside litigation counsel, and oversees USATF legal and contract matters. She has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Temporary New York State Commission on Brooklyn Recreational Facilities, the United States Olympic Committee Disabled Sports Committee, Sports Lawyers Association, the Indianapolis Bar Association's Sports Law Section (chair), the Indianapolis National Junior Tennis League Board, and the Central Indiana Tennis Association Board.

A lifelong sports enthusiast who competed in track & field while at Princeton University, Pilgrim also has participated in skiing, tennis, field hockey, soccer, badminton, volleyball, and basketball.

From USATF.org.