A 5-kilometer race is 23 miles shorter than a marathon, for which Meb Keflezighi is most noted, but a particular 5k in Cleveland, Tenn., earned his attention for its longevity.
And it has attracted his participation.
Not just the 65 Roses 5k on the Lee University campus but the entire Great Strides Weekend that goes with it next March will benefit from the presence of the 2014 Boston Marathon and 2009 New York City Marathon winner and 2004 Olympic silver medalist.
The Great Strides Weekend will be in its 18th year, the 16th with the 5k run included, and will surpass $1 million in funds raised to bring attention and help for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. More than $940,000 has been raised already through the event, Tennessee CFF associate executive director Leigh Ellington said Wednesday morning at a news conference at Lee.
Among other things, Ellington reported, funded research has led to the development of "game-changing" drugs that have allowed people with cystic fibrosis to live much longer, fuller lives than they formerly could have expected.
"But there is still no cure and there are many milestones to reach," she said.
With the million-dollar milestone in Cleveland and Lee's centennial year celebration in 2018, the organizers "wanted to do something really special," said Bill Estes, the dean of the college of education and 65 Roses race coordinator. He had made Keflezighi's acquaintance in the past and made contact with him about the cause.
"Lee is thrilled to welcome Meb to campus to be part of Great Strides," Estes said Wednesday, reporting that Keflezighi will run in the March 24 race after a visit to Arnold Elemenetary School the day before and speaking at Lee on Friday night, the 23rd.
"He's America's greatest distance runner."
Indeed, Keflezighi was named "the most influential person in running" by Runner's World Magazine in 2015 and has won 23 national titles and run in four Olympics. He won four NCAA national titles at UCLA, where he graduated in 1998, the year he became a United States citizen.
He's retiring from official competition after this year's New York Marathon in just over a week. Because of his focus on that final big race, he was not present at Lee on Wednesday, but he did send a statement about his anticipation of the Great Strides event.
"Lee University has been a remarkable supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation the last 18 years," he said in the statement. "I am proud of the work they have done and am honored to be part of the 2018 Great Strides Weekend. I've heard great things about the community in Cleveland, and I'll be there to encourage everyone in Cleveland and the surrounding areas to keep up the great work and raise the next million dollars."
Keflezighi established the MEB Foundation in 2010 with the theme of "Maintaining Excellent Balance" in life. His own inspiring personal story is documented in his book "Run To Overcome."
He's one of 10 children of a couple who brought their family from war-torn Eritrea in East Africa to San Diego in October 1987, by way of San Diego. Thirty years later he's the leading distance runner in America.
Contact Ron Bush at rbush@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6291.