American Wins New York City Marathon for First Time in 27 Years
An African-American man made history by being the first American to win the New York City Marathon since 1982.
Meb Keflezighi, 34, won the 26.2-mile race in 2:09:15. He fled his war-torn land of Eritrea, a tiny country in Northwest Africa, with his family (he’s one of 11 children) in 1987. Keflezighi, who lives in San Diego, became a U.S. citizen in 1998. He also won a silver medal in the 2008 Olympics.
The victory was emotional for Keflezighi, wiping away tears after the New York City Marathon; tears for his historic victory for his country, for his recovery from an injury he once feared might end his career, and for Ryan Shay, his friend who collapsed and died at the U.S. Olympic trials in New York in 2007.
Keflezighi’s prize earnings? $130,000.
