For the first time since 1982, an American man won the ING New York City Marathon, which took place on Sunday, November 1.
34-year-old Meb Keflezighi crossed the finish line of the 26.2 mile race with a personal best of 2:09:15.
Keflezighi emigrated in 1987 to San Diego, California, after fleeing war torn Eritrea during the conflict with Ethiopia, and officially became a United States citizen in 1998.
Keflezighi isn’t new to the racing game, or the American athletics stage: he won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics and was the runner-up in the same New York marathon, also in 2004.
The female champion on Sunday was 37-year-old Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia with a time of 2:28:52. Tulu is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 10,000 meter race (winning in both 1992 and 2000), and has also previously won the London marathon, in 2001.
There were also a few famous faces in this year’s New York Marathon. Actor Edward Norton and singer Alanis Morissette both ran to raise money for Kenyan conservation efforts. Biker Lance Armstrong finished the race, along with magician David Blaine, and Bachelorette winner and super-athlete Ryan Sutter (who has also completed an Iron Man).
Were any of you there?
Comments
lauren
November 4th, 2009 - 1:03:14 PM
Huh, what do you know, that is his last name. For a second there I thought you had just pounded the keyboard once or twice.
Dodd Vickers
November 5th, 2009 - 10:57:10 AM
Blaine did not actually run in the marathon in spite of plans to do so.