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Keflezighi wil Boston winnen

21 januari 2014 (0 reacties)

Olympic medalist visits Marathon start


Mebrahtom Keflezighi won tot zijn eigen verbazing zilver op de OS van Athene

Hij was de grote verassing in de spectaculaire olympische marathon van Athene (2004) Mebrahtom Keflezighi (voor intimi Meb) werd enige tijd begeleid door Global Sport maar laat nu zijn zaken waarnemen door zijn broer. De marathonloper was lange tijd geblesseerd en kende een uitstekende come-back met een derde plaats in de NYCM. Nu heeft hij zijn zinnen gezet op de Boston marathon. Het aangepaste parcours, met nog een heuvel erbij , lijkt in het voordeel te zijn van de voormalige Eritreer.

Door Cathy Flynn

HOPKINTON — Mebrahtom Keflezighi, a Silver Medal winner for the United States in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, hopes to be the first American in 23 years to win the Boston Marathon. The 30-year-old runner, who was born in Eritrea but emigrated here 18 years ago, came to Hopkinton yesterday to survey the start line and begin his training for the Marathon, his first in Boston. With him were his coach Bob Larsen; Fred Treseler and Pat Lynch, who coordinate the elite field for Marathon sponsor John Hancock; and Bill Squires, who has coached Alan Culpepper, the American who finished fourth in last years Marathon.

Athene
“I think I can win,” said Keflezighi, who is nicknamed Meb. “The Athens course is very hilly, and people have said its similar to Boston.” He said he was planning to start this training by running part of the Boston course later in the day. “Im just preparing, doing the hard work, and taking my God-given talent and working hard with it.” Born in Eritrea in 1975, Keflezighi and his family fled to Milan, Italy, in 1985 to escape his homelands civil war. His father, who feared for his own life, spent five years in hiding before joining his family. A brother, born while his father was away, was named Bemnet, which means “believe.”

Zilver op OS
Keflezighi and two of his brothers began running after the family moved to San Diego and eventually was recruited by UCLA, where he won four NCAA titles. He was expected to come in 39th in the 2004 Olympic marathon, but he surprised everybody by finishing second and winning silver for the U.S. He also is an American record-holder in the 10,000-meter event and a member of seven World Championship teams. He was a four-time NCAA champion runner while attending UCLA. It was in college where Keflezighi met Larsen, who recently retired from UCLA. Larsen said yesterday his protege has the right stuff to win this years Marathon. “He is similar to some of the other athletes who have run extraordinarily well in the Marathon,” Larsen said. “He has the ability and the drive to get to the top.

Heuvelachtig parcours
“Our ultimate hope is that an American will reclaim the Boston Marathon. That would be wonderful.”Treseler said he is excited to have Keflezighi join his group of elite global runners. And Squires, who has also coached Marathon legends Bill Rodgers, Alberto Salazar and Greg Meyer, said the newcomer should perform admirably on a course that 110 years ago was patterned after the Athens marathon. “After the 1896 Olympics, George Brown (a Hopkinton resident who owned the Boston Arena), was intrigued by the idea of a marathon,” recalled Squires. “He came back and decided that there should be a hilly course for Boston. The fact that Meb finished second on a harder course than Boston should be a great plus.” Guy Morse, executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, said he welcomed Keflezighi to the race. “Meb is a great competitor, and he will contend for the victory,” said Morse. “He is in the top tier internationally and we are thrilled John Hancock was able to secure one of Americas best male distance runners to compete at Boston this year.” Following a week in Boston, Keflezighi returns to San Diego, where he lives with his wife Yordanos Asgedom, whom he says is an occasional runner. Hell do his altitude training at Mammoth Lakes, Calif., before returning to Boston in April. Squires said he has no doubt the outcome will be good. “He worked for 2 1/2 years getting ready for the Olympics and finished second. I think the American public will have their winner,” the coach said.

© Metro Daily News/hardloopnieuws.nl

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Keflezighi wil Boston winnen

25 januari 2006 (0 reacties)

Olympic medalist visits Marathon start


Mebrahtom Keflezighi won tot zijn eigen verbazing zilver op de OS van Athene

Hij was de grote verassing in de spectaculaire olympische marathon van Athene (2004) Mebrahtom Keflezighi (voor intimi Meb) werd enige tijd begeleid door Global Sport maar laat nu zijn zaken waarnemen door zijn broer. De marathonloper was lange tijd geblesseerd en kende een uitstekende come-back met een derde plaats in de NYCM. Nu heeft hij zijn zinnen gezet op de Boston marathon. Het aangepaste parcours, met nog een heuvel erbij , lijkt in het voordeel te zijn van de voormalige Eritreer.

Door Cathy Flynn

HOPKINTON — Mebrahtom Keflezighi, a Silver Medal winner for the United States in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, hopes to be the first American in 23 years to win the Boston Marathon. The 30-year-old runner, who was born in Eritrea but emigrated here 18 years ago, came to Hopkinton yesterday to survey the start line and begin his training for the Marathon, his first in Boston. With him were his coach Bob Larsen; Fred Treseler and Pat Lynch, who coordinate the elite field for Marathon sponsor John Hancock; and Bill Squires, who has coached Alan Culpepper, the American who finished fourth in last years Marathon.

Athene
“I think I can win,” said Keflezighi, who is nicknamed Meb. “The Athens course is very hilly, and people have said its similar to Boston.” He said he was planning to start this training by running part of the Boston course later in the day. “Im just preparing, doing the hard work, and taking my God-given talent and working hard with it.” Born in Eritrea in 1975, Keflezighi and his family fled to Milan, Italy, in 1985 to escape his homelands civil war. His father, who feared for his own life, spent five years in hiding before joining his family. A brother, born while his father was away, was named Bemnet, which means “believe.”

Zilver op OS
Keflezighi and two of his brothers began running after the family moved to San Diego and eventually was recruited by UCLA, where he won four NCAA titles. He was expected to come in 39th in the 2004 Olympic marathon, but he surprised everybody by finishing second and winning silver for the U.S. He also is an American record-holder in the 10,000-meter event and a member of seven World Championship teams. He was a four-time NCAA champion runner while attending UCLA. It was in college where Keflezighi met Larsen, who recently retired from UCLA. Larsen said yesterday his protege has the right stuff to win this years Marathon. “He is similar to some of the other athletes who have run extraordinarily well in the Marathon,” Larsen said. “He has the ability and the drive to get to the top.

Heuvelachtig parcours
“Our ultimate hope is that an American will reclaim the Boston Marathon. That would be wonderful.”Treseler said he is excited to have Keflezighi join his group of elite global runners. And Squires, who has also coached Marathon legends Bill Rodgers, Alberto Salazar and Greg Meyer, said the newcomer should perform admirably on a course that 110 years ago was patterned after the Athens marathon. “After the 1896 Olympics, George Brown (a Hopkinton resident who owned the Boston Arena), was intrigued by the idea of a marathon,” recalled Squires. “He came back and decided that there should be a hilly course for Boston. The fact that Meb finished second on a harder course than Boston should be a great plus.” Guy Morse, executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, said he welcomed Keflezighi to the race. “Meb is a great competitor, and he will contend for the victory,” said Morse. “He is in the top tier internationally and we are thrilled John Hancock was able to secure one of Americas best male distance runners to compete at Boston this year.” Following a week in Boston, Keflezighi returns to San Diego, where he lives with his wife Yordanos Asgedom, whom he says is an occasional runner. Hell do his altitude training at Mammoth Lakes, Calif., before returning to Boston in April. Squires said he has no doubt the outcome will be good. “He worked for 2 1/2 years getting ready for the Olympics and finished second. I think the American public will have their winner,” the coach said.

© Metro Daily News/hardloopnieuws.nl

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