Sports

Olympian Keflezighi to run in New York City Marathon

Meb Keflezighi – who finished fourth in the London Olympics marathon – confirmed he will run the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 4. He’ll run on short rest, and actually signed a two-year contract, committing to run next season a well.

“I love the place, and they’ve treated me very well and with respect. Why not? ‘’ said the 37-year-old Keflezighi, who has fared exceptionally well here. His 2009 victory in the New York City Marathon was the first here by an American since Alberto Salazar back in 1982.

Keflezighi, who has struggled with injuries throughout his career, ran through both blisters in his foot and pain in his side in London. He nearly pulled out of the race with seven miles to go, but eventually rallied from 19th to finish just one spot out of a medal.

“It did cross my mind, but (I thought) just finish for our country because it’s the Olympics, more for pride than anything,’’ said Keflezighi, whose silver medal in Athens was the first medal by an American man since 1976. “I thought about dropping out in Mile 18 or 19, but…I always said I wanted to represent our country the best that I can every day and dropping out wasn’t an option for me.’’

He’s experience at running marathons on comparatively short rest. Back in 2004, he had just 70 days between that runnerup Athens finish and running in New York; then had similar rest between setting a personal-best in last year’s New York Marathon and winning the Olympic Trials in January.

“My goal was to run all prs all four marathons. I’d already decided I was going to run New York, so New York last year was a PR, the trials I pr and a win, and then I take fourth place in London,’’ said Kefliezighi, who took time off after the Olympics to take his family to Milan.

He’d lived there for two years as a child, and took them to see an elementary school teacher that’d impacted him greatly.

He’ll be joined in New York by fellow Olympic teammates Abdi Abdirahman and Ryan Hall, and U.S. marathon debutants Jason Hartmann and Brett Gotcher.

“It’s a good day when we are announcing the equivalent of the USA Men’s Dream Team in Marathon running,’’ said race director Mary Wittenberg. “The field this year is larger-than-life, led by perennial contender Meb Kefezighi and his 2012 Olympic marathon teammates Abdi Abdirahman and Ryan Hall.

“Two of America’s best distance runners— Jason Hartmann and Brett Gotcher—add to the incredible lineup, and we can’t wait to see what they can do in their NYC Marathon debuts.”