Run to Overcome

Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi  is an American athlete, specializing in long distance running. He is the 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist in the Marathon. He is scheduled to return to the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Meb and his family were refugees from Eritrea via Italy to the United States when he was 12.He began running while in an American Junior High School in San Diego, going on to win both the 1600 meters and 3200 meters at the CIF California State Championships in 1994 for San Diego High School.The distinction of Keflezighi's homegrown American running history differentiated him from other African-born elite athletes, such as Bernard Lagat, whose change of domicile and citizenship had been for largely competitive reasons.Keflezighi became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1998, the same year in which he graduated from UCLA. While at UCLA Keflezighi received numerous All-American awards and other accolades.He won four NCAA championships during the 1996-97 season, including the cross-country title, the 10,000 meters outdoors and the 5000 meters indoors and outdoors titles in track.