Meb Keflezighi Wins NYC Marathon

Meb Keflezighi has become the first American to emerge victorious in the New York City Marathon since 1982.

Keflezighi won a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics.  He became a U.S. citizen in 1998, having been born in Eritrea

He placed second in the race in New York in 2004 and placed third in ’05. Keflezighi, 34, wore “USA” on his chest and won the race in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 15 seconds.

Four-time Boston Marathon champion Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya placed second. Morocco’s Jaouad Gharib finished third with American Ryan Hall finishing fourth. American Alberto Salazar won three consecutive NYC Marathons from 1980-82.

Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia was the women’s victor, with 41-year-old Russian Ludmila Petrova the runner-up for the second consecutive year.

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