During the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Mebrahtom Keflezighi (pronounced Kef-lez-ghee) secured a place in history. In one of the most dramatic Olympic ever, Meb won a Silver Medal despite being ranked 39th out of 100 of the world’s best marathoners. As the Silver Medal winner for the USA, Meb attracted new fans around the globe as he was awarded his Silver Medal in front on millions of viewers. Seventy days later, Meb would stun the track and field world by finishing second in the prestigious 2004 ING New York City —a feat last achieved by an American in 1993. “You make us so proud Meb!” a woman with an American flag yelled from the stands as Meb crossed the finish line of the ING NYC Marathon. This time, Meb had finished third at the 2005 ING NYC Marathon, and represented the United States on the medal stand for the second year in a row. After years of racking up national honors, Meb has vaulted himself and his truly CAREER HIGHLIGHTS inspiring story into the international spotlight. 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist (Marathon) Commonly considered "the top US distance runner” by American 10,000m record holder (27:13.98) USA Track & Field, Meb has astonished coaches ever since he Olympic Trials 10,000m record holder ran a 5:20 mile in junior high. Meb’s athletic success at the U.S. Championships 10,000m record holder high school level and 4.0 GPA attracted the attention of the 2009 USA Half Marathon Champion (61:25) best universities in the nation. Coach Bob Larsen offered Meb 2006 Marathon, 3rd place a full scholarship to the University of California-Los Angeles, a 2005 ING NYC Marathon, 3rd place rare opportunity for a distance runner. As an undergraduate nd 2004 ING NYC Marathon, 2 place at UCLA, Meb won four NCAA titles in one year. Meb’s 2000, 2004 Olympic Trials 10,000m champion accomplishments have earned him the title as "The Greatest 12th in 10,000m at 2000 Olympics Distance Runner in UCLA History." Meb’s special relationship 3-time U.S. 10,000m champ (2000, ’02, ’04) 3-time USA 12km XC champ (’01, ’02, ‘09) with Coach Larsen started in 1994, when Meb was a freshman 6-time U.S. 15 km champ and continues today. (’01,’02,’03,’04,’06,’07) After Meb earned his B.A. in Communication Studies 4-time NCAA champion with a specialization in Business from UCLA, he pursued a career as a professional runner. During his transition from collegiate to professional running, Meb notified his potential sponsors of his goal to be one of the best distance runners in the world. As a result of his athletic potential, great personality and million-dollar smile, Meb has been sponsored by Nike since 1998, and has extended his contract until 2010. Meb’s persistence has enabled him to focus on his athletic development from a national class runner to one of the best in the world. Meb has persevered through stints of injuries after college and during the 2008 season to achieve remarkable success. This spirit of endurance is fueled by his parents’ fervent determination to save their family from the gruesome 30-year war between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Knowing that his life was threatened by the Ethiopian regime, Meb’s father fled the country and worked for four years as a laborer to save his family. The family reunited in where they lived for two years before arriving in San Diego in the late 1980s. Despite the language barriers and life as immigrants, Meb and his ten siblings have created their own legacy by making education their number one priority. Among the children who are out of high school, they hold six undergraduate degrees, an MBA, an MD, a JD, a senior at Stanford University, and a sophomore at UCSD. In 1998, Meb became a US citizen but still possesses dual-citizenship with Eritrea. In international competition, Meb represents the USA, including in two Olympic Games and several world championships. For many Eritreans, Meb symbolizes what their families fought for in the war with Ethiopia: the freedom to succeed. For long distance running fans, Meb is a role model who has rejuvenated interest in the sport, attracting new fans in the same vein as Tiger Woods in golf and the Williams sisters in tennis. To the American public, Meb symbolizes what is possible when we take advantage of the resources and opportunities around us. According to Ghebre Selassie Mehreteab, the CEO of the NHP Foundation, “Meb is an inspiration to all new Americans and his story demonstrates the power of the American Dream.”

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CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Source: www.usatf.org 2009: After an injury-filled 2008, Meb came back to win the 2009 US Half Marathon Championship in Houston, in a PR 61:25. USATF Cross Country Champion (12k), 36:06.

2008: 2nd at Falmouth Road Race. Sidelined majority of year with injury, focus was getting healthy.

2007: 1st at Gate River Run, 3rd at US Half Marathon Championships, 4th at Bix 7, 4th at Beach to Beacon, 2nd at Falmouth Road Race, 8th place US Olympic Trials (Marathon), Best of 27:41.26 in 10k in Brussels, Belgium.

2006: 1st at Gate River Run 15k, 3rd at debut in , 2nd at US Nationals 10k, 5th at Bix 7, 2nd at inaugural NYC Half-Marathon (1:01:28). Meb has been featured in a nationally-run MasterCard commercial year-round.

2005: 3rd at New York City Marathon (2:09:56)…2nd at USATF Outdoor Championships 10,000m… Best of 13:20.71 in 5,000m in Oslo, Norway.

2004: Olympic marathon silver medalist (2:11:29)…1st at Olympic Trials 10,000m (27:36.49); runner-up at Marathon Olympic Trials (2:11:47)…2nd at New York City Marathon (2:09:53PR)…1st at USA 15 km championships (43:18)…1st at USA 8 km championships (22:16)…ranked #4 in world by T&FN…best of 2:11:53PR.

2003: Runner-up at USA Outdoor 10,000m (27:57.59)…16th at World Outdoors 10,000m (28:35.08)…2nd at USA XC Champs 12km (38:34)…11th at World XC Champs 12km (37:16)…12th in Stockholm 5000m (13:20.50, U.S. Leader)…ran 2:10:03PR at LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon; ranked #2 U.S. at 5,000m, #2 in 10,000m by T&FN…bests of 13:20.50 & 27:57.59.

2002: USA Outdoor 10,000m champ…ran 27:20.15 10km at Stanford on May 3…won U.S. 12km Cross Country Championship (35:45),1st at U.S. 15km Championships (42:49)…14th at World Cross Country Championships 12km (36:09)…9th at New York City Marathon (2:12:35)…at 5km he ran 13:21.87 in Rome and 13:30.05 at Prefontaine Classic…ranked #9 in the world at 10,000m & #1 in U.S. at 5,000m & 10,000m by T&FN…bests of 13:21.87AL & 27:20.15 AL.2001: Set new American record for 10,000m May 4 at Cardinal Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., with a time of 27:13.98, a personal best by almost 40 seconds … his performance broke Mark Nenow’s 1986 AR …2nd in 10,000m at USA Outdoors (28:39.64)…USA 12km XC Winter Nationals Champ…23rd at IAAF World Championships (28:44.48…13th in 12km at World XC Champs (40:46)…won U.S. 15km Championship…ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN…bests of 13:23.16 and 27:13.98. 2000: Won Olympic Trials 10,000m in a 28:03.32...made the 2000 Olympic final despite having the flu, where he placed 12th (27:53.63PR)...top U.S. finisher in men’s long race at World Cross Country Championships, 26th in 36:45...ranked #1 U.S. at 10,000m, 3rd in 5,000m by T&FN...Bests of 13:11.77 (at Heusden) and 27:53.63.1999: 4th at USA Outdoors 10,000m...5th at Pan American Games 10 km)...bests of 13:40.86 for 5,000m and 28:29.27 for 10,000m. 1998: 4th at NCAA (5,000)...2nd at Pac-10, 4th at NCAA and 4th at USA Championships...bests of 3:42.29 (1500), 4:02.86 (mile), 13:26.85 (5,000), 28:16.79 (10,000).

1997: Won NCAA Outdoor 5,000m and 10,000m, Indoor 5,000m and men’s Cross Country Championships...bests of 3:43.95, 13:33.97 and 28:26.55.

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Agent Contact

Merhawi Keflezighi H.A.W.I. Management Handling Adversity With Integrity 8789 Betelgeuse Way San Diego, CA 92126

(310) 895-6438 (mobile) [email protected] www.hawisports.com www.runmeb.com