http://billingsgazette.com/sports/running/keflezighi-to-light-state-games-torch/article_41946cfb-52be-5ecb-bb7d-4c3f4be4c486.html
Keflezighi to light State Games torch
Gazette staff
Olympic marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi will be the special guest athlete for the opening of the 28th annual Big Sky State Games in Billings.
Keflezighi will conduct a morning running clinic on July 19 and light the State Games torch during opening ceremonies that evening. Both events are at Wendy’s Field at Daylis Stadium.
Keflezighi won the silver medal in the 2004 Olympic marathon and finished fourth in the event in the 2012 Olympics. His 2004 silver medal was the first medal won by an American male in the Olympic marathon since 1976.
Keflezighi and his family came to the U.S. as refugees from Eritrea — located on the upper east coast of Africa — when he was 12, settling in San Diego. He began running in junior high and became a four-time NCAA champion while running for UCLA.
His NCAA titles came in cross country, the 10,000-meter outdoor run and the 5,000-meter outdoor and indoor run. He is a three-time USA cross country champion (2001, 2002 and 2009) a six-time 15K national champion, two-time Olympic Trials 10K champion, the U.S. record-holder in the 20K and the 2009 New York City Marathon champion.
Keflezighi has a personal best in the marathon of 2:09:08, which he ran at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in Houston while also becoming the oldest winner of the Olympic Trials in the marathon at age 36.
Keflezighi is the author of “Run To Overcome,” released in 2010. The autobiography covers the major milestones in his life, leading up to the present day. He is the driving force behind the MEB Foundation (Maintaining Excellent Balance), which promotes healthy living and other positive lifestyle choices and motivation for youth. Keflezighi lives and trains in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., with his wife and three children.
NOTES: The cost for the “Run With Meb” clinic on July 19 is $30 and includes a short run, presentation by Meb, refreshments and entry into one of the Big Sky State Games Road Race Events (5K, 10K or half marathon). You can register online at www.bigskygames.org and click on “Run With Meb Clinic”. … The gates will open at 5:30 p.m. for the opening ceremonies on July 19. Admission is $5, with children under 6 admitted free. State Games participants are admitted free with their opening ceremonies tickets.
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Received on Wed May 15 2013 - 12:07:11 EDT
