Keflezighi to Compete at New Balance Falmouth Road Race

By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2014 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission

Reigning Boston Marathon champion and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi will compete in the New Balance Falmouth Road Race on August 17, race organizers announced today.  This will be the fourth time Keflezighi will run Falmouth's storied course from Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights.  He has twice finished as runner-up, in 2007 and 2008, and in 2009 he placed fifth. Each time, he was the first American finisher.

"I am so happy to be coming back to Falmouth," said Keflezighi, who lives in San Diego, Calif., through a statement.  "The Falmouth Road Race is run on one of the most beautiful courses I've ever seen, and the people there have embraced me as if I've lived on-Cape all of my life.  I always run well there, and to return now as the Boston Marathon champion makes it even more special, knowing that so many of my Falmouth friends were there and cheering me on."

In 2010, Keflezighi was set to compete here before sore hamstrings forced him to withdraw the day before the race, but later that year he returned to Falmouth to visit and run with students at five schools in the community.

When Keflezighi crossed the finish line on Boylston Street last spring in an emotional victory, he became the first American to win the Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon (2009), and an Olympic medal.  Now 39, he also won the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and finished a remarkable fourth in the 2012 London Olympics, and is the oldest man to win the Boston Marathon since 1931.

"We’re excited that Meb has chosen to run in Falmouth," commented Dave McGillivray, race director of both the Boston Marathon and the New Balance Falmouth Road Race, through a media release.  "Standing at the finish line and soaking in the chants of 'USA! USA!' as Meb ran up Boylston Street was a privilege, and seeing the impact that he and his win have had on runners and children since then has been eye-opening. Falmouth is a lucky town."

Besides competing in the 7-mile race, Keflezighi will attend the SBLI Kids' Fun Run at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15, and will appear at the Health & Fitness Expo at Falmouth High School at 3:30 PM on Saturday, August 16.

In addition, 100 people will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to "Run With Meb" on Saturday morning, August 16, in a special fund-raiser with a portion of the proceeds going to the Falmouth Recreation Department.  Details on the charity run will be announced soon.

The 42nd running of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race will be Sunday, August 17, 2014. For more information, please visit our website at www.falmouthroadrace.com.