19 March, 2015
As part of the Desire to Inspire program which serves the goal to inspire through the Marathon, 2014 Boston Marathon Winner Meb Keflezighi was greeted loudly as he entered Hopkinton Middle School and at the High School, Meb was greeted with welcome Meb signs featuring the Hiller H. Meb talked to students about being brought up in East Africa at a time of war, coming to America as a refugee and what led to his road to becoming the first American Boston Marathon Champion in the Men's Division in 31 years. Meb encouraged the students to follow their deams and never give up. "You want to do something greater than yourself, you are going to achieve great things and you never know when that day is going to come, so you do the right thing, keep working hard and keep being yourself."
Meb won born 1975 in Asmara, Entrea on the Eastern Coast of Africa and grew up in war torn conditions, he came to the United States in 1987 at the age of 11. Meb discovered he could have a future in running while he was in 7th grade, he ran a 5 minute 20 second mile. Meb competed in many running competitions while in school, he graduated UCLA with 4 NCAA championships. At the age of 38 Meb Keflizighi became the first American to win the Men's Division in the Boston Athletic Association Marathon since 1983. Meb also set the record at the 2014 Boston Marathon, completing the course with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 37 seconds. Meb is the only marathon runner in history to win the Boston Marathon, New York Marathon and an Olympic Medal.
Selectmen John Mosher presented a proclamation to Meb and welcomed the 2014 Marathon winner an honorary citizen of Hopkinton. Mosher summed up the influence Meb had on most of the country when he crossed the finish line first at the 2014 Boston Marathon; "An American who faced potentially career ending adversity but stayed the course became the champion of the Boston Marathon...Your heart and victories speak to us all, you represented us all, Meb you are our champion."
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