CONTACTS: Karen Lim [email protected] | #619.388.3552
Elizabeth Meehan [email protected]
BOSTON MARATHON WINNER TO PRESENT AT SAN DIEGO CITY COLLEGE
The World Cultures Program Welcomes Meb Keflezighi |Thursday, May 7
San Diego, CA – April 30, 2015 - As part of the World Cultures Program at San Diego City
College, 2014 Boston Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi will be the featured speaker on Thursday, May 7
from 1:00 – 2:10 p.m. in the Harry West Gymnasium. This event is open to the public and free of charge.
Widely acclaimed as one of the greatest runners of our time, Meb Keflezighi (pronounced Kef-lez-ghee)
is the only athlete in history to win the New York Marathon, the Boston Marathon and an Olympic
Medal—impressive feats for someone who had never run a mile until middle school.
Before becoming a celebrated runner, earning numerous endorsements, authoring two books, Run to
Overcome and Meb for Mortals, and inspiring thousands as a motivational speaker, Meb was a co-head
Coach of the San Diego City College cross-country team for the 2000 season with Professor Paul Greer.
Greer says, “Meb is still the same kind and generous man now as he was then. I never expected any
different as Meb is one of the most stand-up guys you will ever be fortunate enough to meet.”
At the age of 12, Meb and his family immigrated to the United States as refugees from war-torn East
African Eritrea. He attended Roosevelt Middle School and San Diego High School. Meb went on to
graduate from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and earned National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) championships, 22 National Championships and a place on three United States
Olympic teams.
Always looking for ways to give back to his community, Meb maintains an unwavering commitment to
helping others go the distance in their own lives—physically, professionally, personally and spiritually.
Meb resides in San Diego with his wife Yordanos and their three daughters. He oversees the MEB
(Maintaining Excellent Balance) Foundation, which is committed to promoting youth health, education
and fitness.
City College President Anthony Beebe shared, “What a wonderful opportunity it is for our students to
hear from a world class athlete who shares such a passion about inspiring young people to be their best.
As a former coach here at City College, Meb knows our students and understands their challenges to cross
their individual finish lines.”
Meb Keflezighi
2014 Boston Marathon Winner
Thursday, May 7 | 1:00 – 2:10 pm
Harry West Gymnasium @ San Diego City College
1480 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101
www.sdcity.edu/worldcultures
About San Diego City College
San Diego City College serves as the educational cornerstone of downtown San Diego. With nearly 17,000 students, City College
offers 200+ Associate Degrees and Certificates and 1,900 day, evening and weekend classes. The 60-acre urban campus is now
1/5 of the downtown footprint and is celebrating the largest campus transformation in its 101-year history, with the addition of
five new classroom buildings for the Arts and Humanities, Business Technology, Math and Social Sciences, Science, and the
Career Technology Center. For more information, visit: www.sdcity.edu.
About the World Cultures Program
The mission of the World Cultures Program is to increase the understanding, appreciation and celebration of global human
diversity on the San Diego City College campus and in our world. Annually, the program sponsors approximately 30 events on
campus, with an average yearly attendance of more than 3,000. Campus events are provided to our campus community free of
charge. www.sdcity.edu/worldcultures