http://qctimes.com/sports/running/meb-earns-his-fourth-olympic-berth/article_ea6b4f61-2894-5816-9958-25dc084e4882.html
Meb Keflezighi earns his fourth Olympic berth
Meb Keflezighi has done it again.
Keflezighi, an icon at the Quad-City Times Bix 7 since his first appearance in the race in 2002, earned his fourth Olympic berth Saturday with a second-place finish in the U.S. Olympic trials in Los Angeles.
Galen Rupp, an Olympic silver medalist in the 10,000 meters in 2012, won the race by a wide margin but the 40-year-old Keflezighi was a strong second.
He will be the oldest U.S. entry ever in the Olympic marathon.
Keflezighi, who was born in Eritrea before coming to the U.S. as a child, won the Bix 7 in 2002 and 2009 and has been in the top 10 many other times. He first ran in the Olympics in 2000, finishing 12th in the 10,000. He was the silver medalist in the marathon in 2004 and was fourth in the marathon in 2012.
He became the first American in 33 years to win the Boston Marathon in 2014 but has said several times since then that he was likely to retire.
He decided to take one more shot to allow his children to have the experience of seeing their father run in the Olympics. He carried an American flag and pumped his fist to the crowd as he ran the final stretch, then was embraced by his wife Jordana and three daughters after crossing the finish line.
"I've been blessed more than you can possibly imagine,'' he told reporters a few minutes after finishing.
Jared Ward placed third to take the final Olympic berth.
Amy Cragg, who was fourth in the 2012 trials, won the women’s race by a wide margin over Desiree Linden and Shalane Flanagan. Cragg and Flanagan, who are training partners, ran side by side at the front for most of the way before Flanagan faded to third in the last two miles.
http://www.si.com/olympics/2016/02/13/us-olympic-marathon-trials-meb-keflezighi-oldest-olympian-distance-runner
Meb Keflezighi becomes oldest U.S. Olympic distance runner
BY CHRISTOPHER CHAVEZ Posted: Sat Feb. 13, 2016
LOS ANGELES – Mebrahtom Keflezighi, known to all as Meb, will be the oldest
U.S. Olympic runner in history when he toes the starting line of the men’s marathon in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 21. Keflezighi secured his place on the U.S. Olympic team with a 2:12:21 finish for second place at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles on Saturday and will turn 41 on May 5.
In his marathon debut, Olympic silver medalist Galen Rupp won the race in 2:11:12. BYU graduate Jared Ward finished behind Keflezighi to qualify for his first Olympic team.
The Rio Games will be the fourth of Keflezighi’s career and he looks to add another medal to his silver from 2004 marathon in Athens.
In the last few years, several opportunities have been presented for Father Time to kick down Keflezighi but on Saturday Meb outran him once again.
History was made four years ago as Keflezighi became the oldest U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champion at 36 with his 2:09.08 victory in Houston. He went on to finish fourth in the Olympic race in London.
After injuries and setbacks, Keflezighi roared back into the spotlight with a victory at the 2014 Boston Marathon, the first by an American at the race since 1983.
In his four most recent marathons, Keflezighi has been the first or second American across the finish line. The focus now shifts to racing East African medal contenders for another chance at the podium.
Received on Sat Feb 13 2016 - 17:01:36 EST