• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Road Racing

Historic & Emotional Victory for Keflezighi at Boston Marathon, by David Monti, RRW, used with permission

Larry EderbyLarry Eder
April 21, 2014
0
0 0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Kflezighi_MebFV-BostonMar14_1.jpg

Meb Keflezighi makes history, 
photo by PhotoRun.net

Meb Keflezighi made history today! David Monti’s piece adds to the amazing day of marathon racing that is still going on, as 15,000 of the nearly 33,000 starters are still finishing. 




HISTORIC & EMOTIONAL VICTORY FOR KEFLEZIGHI AT BOSTON MARATHON
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2014 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved, used with permission. 

BOSTON (21-Apr) — With a bold move early in the 118th Boston Marathon that stuck, Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi of San Diego, Calif., broke the 31-year victory drought for American men here, crossing the finish line on Boylston Street to thunderous applause in a personal best 2:08:37.  A year after that finish line was turned into a horrific crime scene by terrorist bombers, Keflezighi’s victory represented redemption for both American distance running and the city of Boston.

“It was my dream to win Boston,” an elated and humbled Keflezighi told reporters after the race.  He continued: “This is probably the most meaningful win for an American.”

Keflezighi, who only managed a 23rd place finish at last November’s TCS New York City Marathon because injuries had caused him to curtail his training, came into today’s race in excellent form.  Nonetheless, his name was never uttered by journalists and running fans as a contender for victory.  Led by defending champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, 15 men had faster personal best times than Keflezighi going into the race, and Keflezighi would turn 39 on May 5th.  He was too old and too slow, the thinking went.

“Guess what?,” he said in the post-race press conference wearing the winner’s gold wreath on his head.  “I didn’t have the 2:04, but I got the Boston title.”

An early gamble was what allowed Keflezighi to become the first American runner in history to win an Olympic medal and the Boston and New York City Marathon titles during his career.  After a reasonable early pace –15:09 through the first downhill 5 kilometers– Keflezighi ran at the front of the lead pack with his USA teammate Ryan Hall, and Ethiopia’s Tilahun Regassa and Markos Geneti among others.  The group hit 10 km in 30:26, a 2:08:25 finish pace, and Keflezighi felt good.

“The first early pace, I was comfortable out front,” Keflezighi explained.  “People think I’m come from behind, but I’m also a front runner.  I was delighted to be in it and I was comfortable.”

In the seventh mile, Keflezighi and the Mammoth Track Club’s Josphat Boit, began to accelerate away from the field.  They ran the seventh mile in 4:51 and opened up a visible gap.  The move came so early that the other contenders didn’t think it meant much.  Besides, they thought, there were serious hills ahead and Keflezighi would pay.

“I was a bit scared of the hills,” said Kenya’s Wilson Kibet who was in the main pack at the time.

By the 9th mile –just before 15 km– the American duo had an eight-second lead.  But by the 11th mile, that lead had widened to 25 seconds and the pack still refused to give chase.

“I wasn’t sure when they were going to come catch us, or try to catch us,” Keflezighi revealed later.

The two Americans hit the half-way mark in 64:21, and the gap was up to 30 seconds.  Keflezighi became emboldened, lifted by the constant shouts of “Go Meb!” and “Go USA!” he heard from the largest crowds in the race’s storied history.

“We just kept pushing the pace, and come and catch us,” Keflezighi recalled thinking.

By the 15th mile, Boit began to slip back, and Keflezighi decided to open the gap.  He split the downhill 16th mile in a sizzling 4:39, and soon he was leading the main pack by over a minute, with Boit struggling in no-man’s land in between.

The rest of the race turned into a nail-biting experience for Eritrean-born Keflezighi.  Thrusting himself up Heart Break Hill in the 21st mile in a swift 5:13, he did everything in his power to put the race out of reach.  He knew working the hills on a course he knew so well was his best strategy.

“This course was designed for someone like me,” he said, meaning a strong, tactical runner.

On the down-side of Heart Break Hill, Keflezighi clocked a fast 4:48 mile.  He was still alone, but Chebet was now coming into the frame behind him.  The three-time Amsterdam Marathon champion dressed in a bright orange adidas uniform was running as fast as possible.  He reportedly ran the 24th mile in a breathtaking 4:31, to Keflezi
ghi’s 4:47, and the gap had come down to six seconds.


“I was trying to close the gap,” Chebet lamented.  He added: “I was a bit tired.”

Making the two final turns before the homestretch on Boylston Street, Keflezighi shot several glances behind him.  He still wasn’t sure he had the victory secured.

“It was close at the end, but at the same time I kept thinking Boston Strong, Boston Strong, Meb Strong, Meb Strong.  Give everything you have.”

But Chebet would run out of gas, and started to become more worried about compatriot Frankline Chepkwony who was chasing him.  After Keflezighi broke the tape, Chebet managed to retain the runner-up position in 2:08:48, only two seconds ahead of Chepkwony (2:08:50).

“It couldn’t happen at a better time to win for the United States,” Keflezighi proclaimed.

There was more success for American athletes behind Keflezighi.  Nick Arciniaga, the 2013 USA Marathon champion, finished 8th in 2:11:47.  Jeffrey Eggleston was 9th, Boit was 11th and Craig Leon and Mike Morgan finished 12th and 13th, respectively.  Ryan Hall, the fastest-ever American marathoner at Boston, had a decidedly off-day, finishing 20th in 2:17:50.  It was, however, his first marathon finish in over two years.

For Keflezighi, he said that his career was now “110%” fulfilled with today’s victory.  He was clearly thankful for all of the support he received, especially from the spectators who he said were “phenomenal.”

“I’m almost 39, just ran a personal best, and just won the Boston Marathon,” Keflezighi marveled.  “I mean, it just couldn’t happen at a better time, and I’m blessed.”

RelatedPosts

Eugene 2022 World Championships Memories, #2  In A Series Of Personal Recollections: A Litte more than Four minutes with Phil Knight

COROS Athlete Watch, #9: Redemption for Lonah Salpter as she wins Bronze for Israel in the Women’s Marathon at the World Championships

Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs, Day Three: Tamirat Tola takes Men’s Marathon in Championship record!

Author

  • Larry Eder

    Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."

    View all posts

Previous Post

Rita Jeptoo Repeats for her third Boston Win: Kenyan Joins select group of three time Boston winners, by Dave Hunter

Next Post

Jeptoo earns Third Boston Marathon crown with sensational course record, by Chris Lotsbom, RRW, used with permission

Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."

Similar Post

Defending Champions Set to Return to the  2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon  Emily Sisson and Connor Mantz Headline a Strong American Field
World Marathon Majors

Defending Champions Set to Return to the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Emily Sisson and Connor Mantz Headline a Strong American Field

August 13, 2022
World Championships Medalists Gotytom Gebreslase, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, and Hellen Obiri to Join Women’s Field at 2022 TCS New York City Marathon on November 6
World Marathon Majors

World Championships Medalists Gotytom Gebreslase, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, and Hellen Obiri to Join Women’s Field at 2022 TCS New York City Marathon on November 6

August 12, 2022
Gyulai Istvan Memorial: McLaughlin goes 51.68, fastest 400m ever in Europe, 7 Meet Records!
Continental Tour Gold

Gyulai Istvan Memorial: McLaughlin goes 51.68, fastest 400m ever in Europe, 7 Meet Records!

August 12, 2022
Defending Champions Albert Korir and Marcel Hug and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Stars Galen Rupp and Daniel Romanchuk to Headline Men’s Field at 2022 TCS New York City Marathon on November 6
World Marathon Majors

Defending Champions Albert Korir and Marcel Hug and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Stars Galen Rupp and Daniel Romanchuk to Headline Men’s Field at 2022 TCS New York City Marathon on November 6

August 12, 2022
The amazing duel between Eilish McColgan and Irene Cheptai in the women’s 10,000m final
Cross Country

2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week Six, Day Five

August 12, 2022
Monaco Diamond League, Meeting Herculis EBS, complete results,  10 August 2022
Track & Field

Kipyegon 3:50.37 missed WR by 0.3 at Herculis EBS Meeting/Monaco DL

August 12, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

July 5, 2022
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

July 17, 2022
Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: False Starts reconsidered

Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: False Starts reconsidered

July 19, 2022
Running Legends Recall Fun Times With Bill Squires

Running Legends Recall Fun Times With Bill Squires

July 7, 2022

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5

RunblogRun Editorial: The Sorry State of Running Television Coverage, by Peter Abraham, note by Larry Eder

4
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

4
Cary Pinkowski did the Heroic Thing–My letter to CNN on the LSB Chicago Marathon

Cary Pinkowski did the Heroic Thing–My letter to CNN on the LSB Chicago Marathon

3
Defending Champions Set to Return to the  2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon  Emily Sisson and Connor Mantz Headline a Strong American Field

Defending Champions Set to Return to the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Emily Sisson and Connor Mantz Headline a Strong American Field

August 13, 2022
World Championships Medalists Gotytom Gebreslase, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, and Hellen Obiri to Join Women’s Field at 2022 TCS New York City Marathon on November 6

World Championships Medalists Gotytom Gebreslase, Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, and Hellen Obiri to Join Women’s Field at 2022 TCS New York City Marathon on November 6

August 12, 2022
Gyulai Istvan Memorial: McLaughlin goes 51.68, fastest 400m ever in Europe, 7 Meet Records!

Gyulai Istvan Memorial: McLaughlin goes 51.68, fastest 400m ever in Europe, 7 Meet Records!

August 12, 2022
Defending Champions Albert Korir and Marcel Hug and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Stars Galen Rupp and Daniel Romanchuk to Headline Men’s Field at 2022 TCS New York City Marathon on November 6

Defending Champions Albert Korir and Marcel Hug and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Stars Galen Rupp and Daniel Romanchuk to Headline Men’s Field at 2022 TCS New York City Marathon on November 6

August 12, 2022

Popular Stories

  • USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

    Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: False Starts reconsidered

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Running Legends Recall Fun Times With Bill Squires

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Geoff Wightman, a man with many talents…

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Recent Tweets

RunBlogRun Follow

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. RunBlogRun is the voice of the sport.

RunBlogRun
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
21h

2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week Six, Day Five , by RunBlogRun, ...https://www.runblogrun.com/2022/08/2022-runblogrun-summer-cross-country-mileage-program-week-six-day-five.html , #crosscountry, #trainingtips, #scottishathletics, #eilishmccolgan, @EilishMccolgan, @ASICSEurope,

Reply on Twitter 1558150289122725893 Retweet on Twitter 1558150289122725893 Like on Twitter 1558150289122725893 Twitter 1558150289122725893
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
21h

Really liked this tweet. @EilishMccolgan took two medals at the #commonwealthgames2022. Her first in the 10,000m was gold, and her second was in the 5,000m with a silver! This was her 4th CG games! ...@birmingham2022, @ASICSeurope

Team Scotland @Team_Scotland

GOLD! 🥇

What a run from Eilish McColgan to win the Commonwealth Games 10,000m title 32 years after her mum! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

And a Games record too!!!

#TeamScot #TimeForHeroes
...#B2022

Reply on Twitter 1558142734199754752 Retweet on Twitter 1558142734199754752 Like on Twitter 1558142734199754752 2 Twitter 1558142734199754752
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
22h

Repost: BROOKS: Marathon season is almost here. Get the workout ideas, training plans, tips, and everything else you need to hit your goals at our Run Happy blog. https://bit.ly/3pkX1nK,
#runhappy, ...#brooksrunning,

Reply on Twitter 1558128422676828166 Retweet on Twitter 1558128422676828166 Like on Twitter 1558128422676828166 Twitter 1558128422676828166
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
23h

Time for #coffeewithLarry! Don't miss it! 8.30 AM Pacific! #europeanathletics, #trackandfieldlife,

Reply on Twitter 1558113171906277383 Retweet on Twitter 1558113171906277383 Like on Twitter 1558113171906277383 3 Twitter 1558113171906277383
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
12 Aug

Marie-Josee Ta Lou’s perseverance in a difficult season gets rewarded with an African Record, by Deji Ogeyingbo, ...https://www.runblogrun.com/2022/08/marie-josee-ta-lous-perseverance-in-difficult-season-gets-rewarded-with-an-african-record.html , #mariejoseetalou, #IvoryCoast, #CotedIvoire, #athleticsafrica,
@deji_oges, #WCHOregon22, #100meters, #200meters,

Reply on Twitter 1557943782007443456 Retweet on Twitter 1557943782007443456 Like on Twitter 1557943782007443456 6 Twitter 1557943782007443456
Load More...
Next Post

Jeptoo earns Third Boston Marathon crown with sensational course record, by Chris Lotsbom, RRW, used with permission

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist