Posted: January 31, 2006

Athletics: Culpepper To Run Boston Marathon

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

The 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon champion, Alan Culpepper, will return to the BAA Boston Marathon, organizers announced today.

Culpepper, 33, ran Boston for the first time last year, finishing fourth in 2:13:19. He became the first American to finish in the top-5 at Boston since Dave Gordon finished fourth in 1987.

"It's very special," said Culpepper last year after his race in Boston. "It's one of the greatest events in the world."

Culpepper, who lives with wife Shayne and son Cruz in Lafayette, Colo., has a marathon personal best time of 2:09:41 set in his debut in Chicago in 2002. He ran the Olympic Marathon in 2004, finishing 12th. Perhaps more accomplished on the track, he has career best times of 13:25.75 for 5000m and 27:33.93 for 10,000m. He won the U.S. 5000m title in 2002 and the U.S. 10,000m twice, in 1999 and 2003.

"2006 is an exciting year for our family as we are expecting our second child in June," Culpepper said in a prepared statement. "I am also thrilled about the state of my running and marathon pursuits. I have had exceptional training for many years and look forward to applying my experience and fitness to better my 2005 fourth place finish at this year's race."

Culpepper is the second significant U.S. athlete to commit to Boston. Earlier this month, organizers announced that Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi would take part in the 110th edition of the race which stretches 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston.

This year's race is scheduled for Monday, April 17 at noon.

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