America's Meb Keflezighi Wins An Emotional Boston Marathon

NPR ^ | 21 April 2014 | Bill Chappell

[Theoria]

In the men's field of the 118th Boston Marathon, American Meb Keflezighi ended a 31-year drought for U.S. runners, after holding off Wilson Chebet of Kenya in a race that came down to the final mile.

According to race officials, Keflezighi, 38, ran a 4:56 split at mile 23, when he built a 20-second lead. That lead dwindled as the runners neared the finish line, but Keflezighi held off all challengers to win the race with an unofficial finishing time of 2:08:37.

The crowd roared as the Eritrean-born runner who lives in San Diego crossed the finish line, celebrating a much-needed victory in the historic race.

Update at 12:25 p.m. ET: Emotions At The Finish Line

It was an emotional scene as the crowd and the runner realized that, yes, this was actually happening: a U.S. man was winning the Boston Marathon. Keflezighi broke the tape near the site of a makeshift memorial to the four people who died because of last year's attack on the race.

Holding his trophy as the U.S. national anthem played, Keflezighi's face was contorted with emotion, tears streaming down his face.

"We are resilient; we never gave up," he said after the race. "My whole run is to run strong — Boston strong, Meb strong."

Keflezighi also said that he was aware he was being chased neared the finish line.

"If somebody beat me," Keflezighi recalls thinking, "I'm going to inspire others to do it."

Instead, the man whose family immigrated to the U.S. after fleeing violence in Eritrea in the 1980s has inspired others by winning the race outright.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

~~~Meb Keflezighi~~~

Born in Eritrea. So he is an American by citizenship? What's the diference between Eritreans and Kenyans?

[JoeProBono]

Personal information
Born May 5, 1975 (age 38)
Asmara, Eritrea
Residence Mammoth Lakes, California
Height 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m)
Weight 127 pounds (58 kg)

[JoeProBono]

State of Eritrea,[6] is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea is the Italian form of the Greek name Ἐρυθραία (Erythraía ), meaning "red [land]". With its capital at Asmara, it is bordered by Sudan to the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the east. The northeastern and eastern parts of Eritrea have an extensive coastline along the Red Sea, across from Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The nation has a total area of approximately 117,600 km2 (45,406 sq mi), and includes the Dahlak Archipelago and several of the Hanish Islands. Eritrea is a multi-ethnic country, with nine recognized ethnic groups. It has a population of around six million inhabitants. Most residents speak Afro-Asiatic languages, either of the Semitic or Cushitic branches. Among these communities, the Tigrinya make up about 55% of the population, with the Tigre constituting around 30% of inhabitants. In addition, there are a number of Nilo-Saharan-speaking Nilotic ethnic minorities. Most people in the territory adhere to Christianity or Islam.[2]

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

The crowd roared as the Eritrean-born runner who lives in San Diego...

Truthfully, how many folks know where Eritrea is? I've worked for a global logistics company for 33 years, with offices in 220+ countries, yet I had to look that up on Wikipedia. It's in Africa, by the way.

[Aria]

I work with someone from there...his last name is worse!

He fled the war there also.

[headstamp 2]

His real name is Norm Crosby.

[Andy'smom]

Eritreans don’t like Kenyans.

[trisham]

He’s been here since he was 12.

[Tulane]

A lot of them were forced out of Ethiopia because they are orthodox christian (typically) and many came to the United States....

You may remember all the media coverage of the Christian persecution back then (snicker)/sarcasm off...

[relictele]

Shame he didn’t point out that the poison of Islam has caused so many problems in his home nation/continent and it’s come to our shores.

[JoeProBono]

[Verginius Rufus]

I think the name Eritrea is rather from the Greek name for the Red Sea, Erythraia thalassa, since it borders the Red Sea.

Both Ethiopia and Eritrea have large Christian populations going back to ancient times. Ethiopia annexed Eritrea in 1962 which led to a 31-year struggle for independence on the part of the Eritreans, but I think it was primarily nationalistic rather than based on religious differences. For part of that time Ethiopia had a Communist dictatorship.

[trisham]

Good for him!

[RedStateRocker]

I know lots of Etrieans. Helped one, a good friend, study for his citizenship test (something I think everyone should do). Christians to a one, although a different ‘flavor’ of Christianity and the traditional garb would make some think of Muslim or other cultures.

[lee martell]

So the drought on American Born men continues unabated, I suppose. The bigger issue is they were able to hold the run without any disruptions, and a good time had by all. That’s what’s really important. For one day this year, to use a popular phrase; We are all Bostonians today!

I sympathize for the family of that crazed young man Kayvon, actual name being Kevin. When your bi-polar son becomes over 20 y/o and has not actually committed a crime yet, there is not much one can do but pray and hope he stays out of dangers’ way. You just know his Facebook comments are on fire from angry Boston citizens.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

I know lots of Etrieans. Helped one, a good friend, study for his citizenship test (something I think everyone should do). Christians to a one, although a different ‘flavor’ of Christianity and the traditional garb would make some think of Muslim or other cultures.

Thank you for the edification.

[dennisw]

Wining the marathon at age 38 is a very high accomplishment in my book.

>>>>>>>>>>
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/04/meet-marathon-meb-keflezighi-the-american-who-won-boston-marathon/
He’s One of the Oldest Champions: Keflezighi turns 39 next month and is the oldest men’s champion in Boston since 1931. James P. Henigan was 38 when he won the 35th version of the race that year and turned 39 five days later on April 25, 1931.

The year before that, 1930, Clarence H. DeMar won the race with a time of 2:34:48 at age 41. It was the last of LeMar’s seven Boston wins.

[Honorary Serb]

Christ is Risen!

Meb Keflezighi is an Orthodox Christian! I saw him cross himself after winning the Marathon on a YouTube, and read a Twitter post from him that said he celebrated Orthodox Pascha.

I imagine that he—as well as other Orthodox Christians who were running the Marathon today—can complete their Paschal feasts during Bright Week. All that meat protein will help them repair their muscles, too!!!!