AMERICANS TRY TO CLOSE THE DISTANCE.Byline: Sean Martin Sean Martin may refer to:
The man hoping to become the first American First American may refer to:
Mebrahtom ``Meb'' Keflezighi, second in this event last year, has been a U.S. citizen since 1997. His background is one reason Keflezighi will hear the most cheers - in the most languages - at Sunday's race through the ethnically diverse city. The former UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX standout has also been embraced by the country's running community because he is a central figure in the revival of U.S. distance running, long one of the weaker links in the world's dominant track and field program. ``I'm excited to go back to New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , to hear the different languages people cheer for me in,'' said Keflezighi, a native of Eritrea. ``I can't speak to a lot of them, but I'll give a thumbs-up.'' Keflezighi, 30, has lived in the U.S. since 1987. He became a citizen 10 years later because he was unsure Eritrea would enter the 2000 Olympics. After representing his new country in the 10,000 meters at the 2000 Sydney Games, he won silver in the 2004 Olympic marathon, the first American to do so in 29 years. On Sunday, Keflezighi will have to overcome a torn right quadriceps suffered at the World Championships in August. ``If I wasn't fit, I wouldn't be here,'' he said last week. ``Is missing that (training) going to hurt me or hinder me? That's why we run the race.'' Facing arguably the best field in New York City Marathon history, and possibly the strongest assembled for a non-Olympic event, adds to Keflezighi's challenge. But if there's any doubt about his ability to win Sunday, there's no question an American victory would be an exclamation point exclamation point: see punctuation. exclamation point - exclamation mark on a successful year for U.S. distance running. ``I almost don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how to describe what it would do for us, having a man and woman both win a major marathon,'' said Jim Estes, USA Track and Field long-distance running long-distance running In track and field, any foot race over 5,000 m in length. Marathons and cross-country running are also considered long-distance events. Women rarely ran in races beyond 3,000 m until the late 20th century. programs manager. ``We're getting back to where we need to be.'' Deena Kastor Deena Michelle Kastor (born February 14, 1973 in Waltham, Massachusetts) is an American long distance runner. She holds American records in the marathon, half-marathon, 10000 meters, and numerous road distances. (Agoura High), also a marathon medalist at the 2004 Athens Games, won in Chicago last month, the first American to win a major race in 11 years. She set the country's half-marathon record of one hour, seven minutes, 53 seconds earlier in 2005. Ryan Shay shay n. Informal A chaise. [Back-formation from chaise (taken as pl. )] Noun 1. finished 15th last month at the World Half-Marathon Championships, the top finish ever by an American man. The U.S. team finished fifth, also its best showing. The U.S. men's fourth-place finish at this year's World Cup marathon, a team-scored event based on finishes at the World Championships, was also a new best. Keflezighi is one of the favorites Sunday even though the injury kept him from following his usual training regimen. He didn't run for about three weeks following the World Championships, and then had to decrease his mileage during a time he would've logged several 100-mile weeks. ``It's not like we're starting at ground zero,'' Keflezighi's coach, Bob Larsen, assured doubters. ``He was in great shape (heading into the World Championships). I'm pleased with what he's been able to do (in training). We're getting close to that level.'' U.S. distance running is getting close to the level of success it enjoyed during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Frank Shorter Frank Shorter (born October 31, 1947) is an American distance runner and winner of the marathon race at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Born in Munich, Germany, where his father, physician Samuel Shorter, served in the army, Frank Shorter grew up in Middletown, New York and , who took silver in the 1976 Olympic marathon, was the last American man to medal before Keflezighi. Alberto Salazar won the 1982 New York Marathon, Greg Meyer finished first in Boston the next year and Joan Benoit Samuelson won the 1984 Olympic marathon in Los Angeles. Samuelson's medal was the last by an American woman before Kastor, and no American man has won the country's two premiere events since. ``There is anticipation, there is hunger, for an American to win,'' Keflezighi said. ``It would be great it if it was this year.'' Sean Martin, (818) 713-3608 sean.martin(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo, 2 boxes Photo: KEFLEZIGHI Box: (1) NEW YORK CITY MARATHON (2) RUNNERS TO WATCH |
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