Say this for Meb Keflezighi: He's not one to duck a challenge.
Rather than run the pancake-flat Chicago Marathon, where he would likely set a personal best, Keflezighi announced yesterday that he will run the Nov. 5 New York City Marathon.
Among the entrants there: defending champion and world record holder Paul Tergat.
“It's more meaningful to win a (major) title than just to run fast,” Keflezighi said from Tampa, Fla., where he was visiting family. “Records are made to be broken. A New York City title, no one could take that away.”
Keflezighi, 31, has yet to win a marathon. He won the silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004, then 70 days later finished second at New York.
He placed third last year at New York, then third last April in Boston, on both occasions finishing in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 56 seconds. His personal best is 2:09:53 at New York in 2004.
About liking to appear on marathons' biggest stages and face the world's most talented runners, the San Diego High graduate said, “That's the beauty of running. (You put) one foot after another and compete against the best.”
The New York City Marathon will be Keflezighi's eighth race at the distance, half of them in New York, where organizers no doubt have rewarded him handsomely with appearance fees.
“The Big Apple's been good to me,” Keflezighi said. “Nothing like San Diego, though.”
– DON NORCROSS
