Meb Keflezighi in New York after his first marathon victory (© Getty Images)
Boston, USAA headtohead battle between the top U.S. marathoners Meb Keflezighi and Ryan Hall will be among the key highlights of the 2010 BAA Boston Marathoner, organisers announced.
The 114th running of the BAA Boston Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, will take place on 19 April 2010.
Fresh from his Marathon win in New York City is Keflezighi, a two-time Olympian and American record holder in the 10,000m. Keflezighi won the silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Marathon and holds multiple national titles.
“Boston has a great tradition not only to the running community but also to the rest of the world,” said Keflezighi. “It has always been my ultimate goal to win the Boston Marathon.”
This has been a banner year for Keflezighi who improved his personal best to 2:09:15 with his New York City win and also claimed national titles in cross country, seven miles, half marathon and the marathon.
“Winning in New York was a huge personal triumph and the victory belongs to my family and support team,” said Keflezighi. “I am glad I can help move the continued resurgence of U.S. distance running to the next level. I am living the American dream and feel blessed.”
Hall carries his own impressive qualifications as the second fastest American marathoner of all time with a 2:06:17 personal best. Only former World record holder Khalid Khannouchi has posted a faster U.S. mark. Hall holds American records in the 20K and half marathon. He was first at the 2007 U.S. Olympic Trials, shattering the event record by more than a minute, and went on to place 10th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon.
“As soon as I finished the 2009 Boston Marathon, I knew I wanted to be back for the 2010 race,” said Hall. “The energy of the crowds far exceeded my expectations, the course was even more challenging than I anticipated, I hurt more than I have hurt in any other race, yet participating in the Boston Marathon was thrilling beyond my greatest expectations.”
That this year’s race, Hall was the aggressive early leader taking a seasoned field through 5K in world record pace. He stayed with the leaders throughout the race, but Deriba Merga of Ethiopia prevailed as the winner.
Both men train with Mammoth Track Club in Mammoth Lakes, California, and have been longtime residents of the state. Hall is originally from Big Bear Lake and graduated from Stanford as a three-time All American in cross country and NCAA champion in the 5,000m. Keflezighi is from San Diego and graduated from UCLA as a four time NCAA champion. In head-to-head marathon competition, Hall has out run Keflezighi 2-1. In their respective third place finishes at Boston, Hall ran a 2:09:40 in 2009 and Keflezighi ran a 2:09:56 in 2006.
Hall and Keflezighi will be attempting to become the first American winners in Boston since Greg Meyer took the title in 1983.
Brian Carmichael (organisers) for the IAAF
The 114th running of the BAA Boston Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, will take place on 19 April 2010.
Fresh from his Marathon win in New York City is Keflezighi, a two-time Olympian and American record holder in the 10,000m. Keflezighi won the silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Marathon and holds multiple national titles.
“Boston has a great tradition not only to the running community but also to the rest of the world,” said Keflezighi. “It has always been my ultimate goal to win the Boston Marathon.”
This has been a banner year for Keflezighi who improved his personal best to 2:09:15 with his New York City win and also claimed national titles in cross country, seven miles, half marathon and the marathon.
“Winning in New York was a huge personal triumph and the victory belongs to my family and support team,” said Keflezighi. “I am glad I can help move the continued resurgence of U.S. distance running to the next level. I am living the American dream and feel blessed.”
Hall carries his own impressive qualifications as the second fastest American marathoner of all time with a 2:06:17 personal best. Only former World record holder Khalid Khannouchi has posted a faster U.S. mark. Hall holds American records in the 20K and half marathon. He was first at the 2007 U.S. Olympic Trials, shattering the event record by more than a minute, and went on to place 10th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon.
“As soon as I finished the 2009 Boston Marathon, I knew I wanted to be back for the 2010 race,” said Hall. “The energy of the crowds far exceeded my expectations, the course was even more challenging than I anticipated, I hurt more than I have hurt in any other race, yet participating in the Boston Marathon was thrilling beyond my greatest expectations.”
That this year’s race, Hall was the aggressive early leader taking a seasoned field through 5K in world record pace. He stayed with the leaders throughout the race, but Deriba Merga of Ethiopia prevailed as the winner.
Both men train with Mammoth Track Club in Mammoth Lakes, California, and have been longtime residents of the state. Hall is originally from Big Bear Lake and graduated from Stanford as a three-time All American in cross country and NCAA champion in the 5,000m. Keflezighi is from San Diego and graduated from UCLA as a four time NCAA champion. In head-to-head marathon competition, Hall has out run Keflezighi 2-1. In their respective third place finishes at Boston, Hall ran a 2:09:40 in 2009 and Keflezighi ran a 2:09:56 in 2006.
Hall and Keflezighi will be attempting to become the first American winners in Boston since Greg Meyer took the title in 1983.
Brian Carmichael (organisers) for the IAAF
