http://www.tallahassee.com/story/life/2016/02/22/meb-keflezighi-immigrant-we-can-all-love/80757760/
Meb Keflezighi: An Immigrant we can all love
David Yon, TLH blogger 2:03 p.m. EST February 22, 2016
Eritrea sits in the Horn of Africa, a peninsula on the northeastern side of the giant continent that is bordered by the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Generally, it is said to include four countries - Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
Eritrea’s longest stretch of the border lies along the Red Sea and is a critical stretch of land making Ethiopia a land locked country. Due to its location and resources, the country has long been in the middle of military conflicts, the most intense probably a 30-year war with neighbor Ethiopia that left over 150,000 Eritreans dead and another 500,000 refugees scattered around the world.
If you had the chance to watch the Olympic Marathon Trials on Feb.12, one of the oldest guys in the field, made his way to the United States from Eritrea by way of Italy, in Oct. 1987. He was 12 years old when he arrived and unlike the stereotypical African runner, he had not grown up running, except for the running he and his family did from Ethiopian soldiers.
Nevertheless, on this day, Meb Keflezighi, a few months shy of his 41st birthday was seeking to make his fourth U.S Olympic team. The temperatures soared into the 70’s at least for the race, making it tough for the competitors – and no doubt an advantage for the old man who almost always runs well in the big races. No doubt, Meb is very talented, but he is usually racing against a dozen or more marathoners with faster personal bests.
Life in Eritrea certainly could have been better, but Meb’s father supported one of the groups fighting to liberate Eritrea and it quickly became dangerous in their hometown of Asmara and the family, including 3-month-old Meb, fled to the countryside. In Meb’s case, growing up with nothing seemed not only to make him tough but to also to appreciate those around him and the opportunities he was able to find.
Few in the analytical world would say Meb is among the most talented marathoners in the world. And yet, just a couple weeks ago he was running with the lead pack at U.S Marathon Trials totally ignorant of his age disadvantage. And when the real racing started around the 16-mile mark, Meb was ready to go. As his competitors fell off and dropped farther behind, he once again produced a tactical masterpiece. Galen Rupp would go on to win, but Meb held firmly to second place and a spot on the U.S marathon team.
There is peace now between Eritrea and Ethiopia, but thank goodness in 1998, he became and a U.S citizen. And while he has never forgotten his native country, he proudly displayed the American flag while breaking droughts of wins by U.S men at the Boston Marathon (2014 – the year after the bombing and first win by an American since 1985) and New Your City (2009, first since 1983). He also won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics (again first American to medal in the marathon since 1972).
The real class of the man goes far beyond his wins, though. He gives back as much as he receives and is loved by all in the sport. Desi Linden, who made the women’s team said of Meb: “There’s great athletes, there’s incredible competitors, and Meb, Meb is a hero.”
Joan Benoit Samuelson states it better than I could in the foreword to his book, Run to Overcome. “Being able to call Meb my friend is a true honor. As a distance runner, I know the passion and dedication a successful runner needs in order to achieve goals in the sport. Going the extra mile and serving as a change agent in one’s community and sport have led to entirely different examples of success…"
Meb’s story is an inspiration to so many, both immigrants and those who have lived their entire lives in the U.S. Here is hoping for at least one more great performance in Rio at the Olympic Marathon. I have no doubt he will represent his country well.
David Yon is an addicted runner who practices law when injured. He can be reached at david_at_radeylaw.com.
Received on Mon Feb 22 2016 - 14:24:45 EST