Mebrahtom Keflezighi (2010) - Hall of Fame

Mebrahtom Keflezighi

Induction:
2010

From 1995-98, Keflezighi became one of the most successful Bruin distance runners in history. During his UCLA career, he was a four-time cross country All-American, a two-time Pac-10 cross country champion, and captured the individual NCAA cross country championship in 1997 -- a UCLA first. In 1997, Keflezighi won NCAA track titles in both the indoor and outdoor 5,000 meters and the outdoor 10,000 meters. He also won Pac-10 titles in the 5,000m (1996, 1997). In addition, Keflezighi holds the UCLA record in both the 10,000m (28:16.79) and the 5,000m (13:26.85). After leaving UCLA, Keflezighi has enjoyed international success at several distances and has helped bring American distance running back into the limelight. He is a three-time USATF 10,000m champion and still holds the U.S. record at that distance with a time of 27:13.98. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Keflezighi won the silver medal in the marathon, becoming America's first marathon medalist since 1976. In the fall of 2009, he became a national sensation when he became the first American in 27 years to win the New York City Marathon with a time of 2:09.15. He also won the 2009 U.S. Half Marathon Championships in a personal best time of 1:01.25.

* Accomplishments listed above were at the time of induction.