The results for the 2009 ING New York Marathon were everything American Meb Keflezighi had dreamed. Meb's win marked the first American win in New York in 27 years, and his winning time of 2:09:15 now serves as his new personal record in the 26.2 distance. More importantly, however, his win was propelled by the drive to honor fallen friend, training partner and fellow American runner Ryan Shay. Shay died in 2007 on the streets of New York while attempting to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was considered a top hopeful for American distance running, as he was a seven-time All American at Notre Dame and was flourishing in races prior to the Trials.
For the 2009 NYC Marathon, Meb stood in the shadow of pre-race American favorite Ryan Hall and battled with having to return to an elite race post-injury and among harsh critics. After the trauma of Shay's death at the 2007 Trials in NYC and his own horrible race that day which led to his absence on the 2008 Beijing team, Keflezighi discovered a stress fracture in his hip that would require him to take almost a year completely off from running. Through proper rest and then proper cross training , Meb battled his way back to fighting form to put on a show at the 2009 NYC Marathon. On Sunday, Meb blessed himself at the exact location mid-race that Ryan Shay collapsed in 2007 from complications via an irregular heart beat. Ryan Shay's father said there was nothing more special Meb could have done-- well maybe, go on to beat four time Boston Marathon winner Robert Cheruiyot in fine fashion.
Keflezighi hails from Eritrea, but came to America at age 12 as a refugee with his family. He attended UCLA and officially became a United States citizen in 1998. He often deals with the backlash of Americans claiming he "isn't truly an American runner"; however, Meb wears his American heart on his sleeve during every race he runs for the nation and is the personification of the American Dream. He was the only athlete during Sunday's NYC Marathon to proudly wear his nation's name across his chest. With U.S.A. emblazoned upon his body and memories of his fallen friend, Meb Keflezighi went against all predictions and brought home a win for both American and Ryan Shay.
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