Meb Keflezighi Wins NYC Marathon

NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Meb Keflezighi has become the first American man to win the New York City Marathon since 1982.

Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, earned his first major marathon title Sunday. Born in Eritrea, the 34-year-old became a U.S. citizen in 1998.

He was second in New York in 2004 and third in 2005. Keflezighi, wearing "USA on his chest, won in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 15 seconds.

Four-time Boston Marathon champ Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya was second. Morocco's Jaouad Gharib finished third and American Ryan Hall was fourth. American Alberto Salazar won three straight NYC Marathons from 1980-82.

Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia was the women's winner, with 41-year-old Russian Ludmila Petrova the runner-up for the second straight year.

Check out Keflezighi's Facebook page and Twitter feed!

Comments

[colorperdaughter]

At my naturalization ceremony I was standing next to an old man, probably 70 or so, in very poor health, from an East European country, probably Jewish, as he cried during the pledge. As did many of those who became American citizens. You shame your country by suggesting naturalized citizens are second class citizens.

[phredralf]

I'm just glad a human won it this year, but only because the cheetahs were banned for doping.
How is being patriotic any different than being a racist?

[RasKesar]

There is some narrow-mindedness involved in both, the level may differ.

[phredralf]

I'm mostly posing a hypothetical, but I think it's a fair comparison to make or at least consider.

[MeasleeMillion]

Yay!

[LuckyLT2]

To: A$$es complaining about his citizenship, you can SIGN UP too!!! Otherwise, put a sock in it.

[NYC07]

Congrads to Meb Keflezighi

You embody the true America sprit of determination and steadfastness.

[colorperdaughter]

hear, hear, the American Ideal Man.

[Nelson Montana - Huffpost Blogger]

It always seems to be some 6'3" 104 pound African who dominate the Marathon. There is a genetic factor, though I know some hypersensitive people would consider that "racist." (Even though it's a compliment).

Hey, I'll bet on the black sprinter and the white swimmer to win every time! What the heck, isn't it time we were all a little less offended by admitting people have different traits?

And I thought it was a great gesture for Keflegazi to wave the flag. A proud, patriotic act.

[RasKesar]

Nelson, I am not sure about the genetic part because I am not an expert. I am sure there are white people built like marathon runners who could easily win if they were raised in the horn of Africa where the altitude is very high (thin air).

[LeftLeanWing]

They have entire villages where the kids a told to run or jog everywhere they go from and early early age... Although I believe there are some genetic and environment factors ... I also believe that long term conditioning and training by their lifestyle has more to do with it.

[lj9283]

I guess you have never heard of Frank Shorter, Alberto Salazar, and Bill Rodgers.

But then again, ignorance is bliss when you live a a world that makes conclusions based on stereotypes.

[Nelson Montana - Huffpost Blogger]

Oh, geez, get a sense of humor.

[LuckyLT2]

6'3" 104 pound African? That's a compliment? Maybe it's not that people are "hypersensitive", but there are too many people who are extremely INSENSITIVE. Besides, why should their race be a factor at all?

[Nelson Montana - Huffpost Blogger]

Funny how no one commented on the patriotic gesture I mentioned. Everyone is caught up on a glib, benign comment on skin color. Get with the times guys. Some people see past that. You're trying to pick fight where none exists.

[RasKesar]

I hope the ignorant posts are not coming from people who consider themselves liberals or progressives. If that is the case, the terms liberal and progressive have been hijacked.

[sokolof]

Don't you know you can be white and gay and still become racist.

[RasKesar]

LOL

[colorperdaughter]

My similar comment was scrubbed! Not nice to judge people by their looks right? It hurts....

[Nelson Montana - Huffpost Blogger]

Nope. I'm straight. But was the gay assumption meant to be an insult?

[BeyondtheBox]

Look at the flag he is waving over his head as he is crowned winner.

The flag of the United States of Amercia.

The same flag I served under as a United States Marine.

That makes him American.

This one pictures says to me many things: winner, gratitude, discipline, courage and honor and above all:

PATRIOTISM.

A lesson some of those that have spent every waking second of their lives on US soil could learn.

[kappa08]

OKAY!...

[liberalNmoderation]

"A lesson some of those that have spent every waking second of their lives on US soil could learn."

Very true.
I've noticed that most who wave the flag around, and raise their voices the loudest about patriotism, usually have no idea what it means to be a patriotic American.

[NikkiNY12]

Bless you!!! We're Americans first. Race comes a far second on the things that really matter.

[Wuud52]

Great post.

[Bashley]

Marked as favorite, now a fan. :)

[Gwinnie Stevens]

I saw this article mentioned on Project Weight Loss and wanted to add my two cents. Marathoners should eat chicken and fish instead of red meat. Animal proteins can be substituted by soy and whey products. A “vegetarian” day once in a while is great for everyone. Meb Keflezighi knew these tips and showed he can be a wise professional.

[Horus45]

"A “vegetarian” day once in a while is great for everyone."

Not when you're allergic to Soy.
More Americans are allergic to soy than any other nation in this world.

[mikebinos]

Then don't eat soy. Plenty of vegetarians don't eat soy; I don't eat it every day. Having one "vegetarian" meal a week does not automatically equate to eating soy that day. If you are only it once in a while you can easily avoid soy

[colorperdaughter]

I am horribly allergic to soy. It really sucks being vegetarian, we need more protein substitutes that are easy and cheap. Thank goodness for tempeh, Quorn, and Seitan, but they are not readily available. Or inexpensive, as they should be.

[jws2346]

Yayyyy..., America and yayyyy..., Meb Keflezighi. Thanks Meb for representing America (yeah, I am bias toward America and it's people)

[sheaintsayin]

Right on, Meb; Congratulations!

[obamasandiego]

It doesn't matter if he was naturalized as a citizen, but that picture of him with the USA on his chest will be seen around the world and for that alone, it makes me proud to claim him as one of country's very own! Some people here are just jealous that they would never, ever, represent the U.S. in this fashion or any other way for that matter!

[colorperdaughter]

This country would be even more effed up if we didn't have the benefit of immigration, many of the world's best and brightest come here. With attitudes like some of the white suprems on this thread, maybe they will stop coming, and we can continue the dive to the bottom

[supergenius02]

Sigh. The issue is not immigration. The issue is illegal immigration. Why is this so confusing?

[alphabet99]

The issue is turning a blind eye, even encouraging "illegal" immigration for decades because it provided cheap labour for everyone from the private citizen to large corporations, then suddenly turning on them and telling them to uproot their lives because they're too foreign after 9/11.

[coco51]

how does the "illegal immigration issue" co-relate to Meb and all the other immigrants that arrive here by fair means or not, traverse the legal system, get their citizenship, pay their taxes and love this country. More "violent and white collar" crimes are committed by "natural born citizens" United States of America than by illegal or legal immigrants. Yet our jails tell a different tale. In the American psychic an "illegal immigrant" looms as dark-skinned people, well I've met quite a few illegal Irish, Italian, German, Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese, who have lived here for over 50 years making a living, owning businesses,and raised families. Some have even paid time in our penal system! There are Russians in New York who are drug and prostitution "lords" but their images down come to mind when Lou Dobbs lash out against illegal immigrants, instead it's the Latino, West Indian, or African.

[NilesCrane]

sad we have to outsource our american runners with ones from Eritrea...sure he is legally an american, but he will always have Eritrea in his heart and have some sympathys for them....

When will we get an american runner whose only country pride is for america?

[Yonas ዬናስ Yonni]

u should be ashamed of yourself.

[colorperdaughter]

Naturalization is a solemn ceremony. We are all immigrants.

[supergenius02]

Even Native Americans are immigrants? Or shall we forget about them?

[Alexandre Laudet]

well I suppose there is cause to celebrate, the guy's a citizen ...and an Olympian. He does hail from the world region that has consistently produced marathon winners. that's interesting. kudos to all runners too.