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Meb Keflezighi Shares Stage with Miss America, Katie Stam, in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

From USA Track & Field
November 23, 2009  updated 11/30/09
Indianapolis, IN

The 2009 ING New York City Marathon men's champion, Meb Keflezighi, the first American men's winner of the race since Alberto Salazar in 1982, was seen on a prominent stage during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 26, in New York City. (Photo by www.photorun.net of Meb Keflezighi with NYRR CEO Mary Wittenberg) Keflezighi rode aboard the Stature of Liberty float alongside the 2009 Miss America, Katie Stam. The parade was broadcast nationally on NBC across the country.

Meb Keflezighi of San Diego, CA ran a brilliant strategic race in New York, pulling away from four-time Boston Marathon Champion Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya in the final two miles to win in a personal-best time of 2:09:15. The win gave Keflezighi the USA men's marathon championship and his fourth national title of 2009. He earned a total prize-money payday of $200,000, including $130,000 for the overall win, $30,000 for running sub-2:09:30, and $40,000 for the U.S. title. He also finished atop the USA Running Series rankings for 2009, earning an additional $6,000.

Other celebrities who were scheduled to appear in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade included singers Carly Simon and Gloria Gaynor along with marching bands, and the parade's trademark giant helium character balloons, which this year include Snoopy and Kermit the Frog.

Meb Keflezighi's ride in the parade is just one of many honors he has enjoyed since breaking the 27-year American men's drought in the ING New York City Marathon. He was also a guest on "Late Night with David Letterman", reading the Top 10 list, and was feted by city officials in his hometown of San Diego.

For more information on Meb Keflezighi and USA Track & Field, see www.usatf.org.

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