Monday, September 22, 1997 Making a run for it MENS: UCLA’s top
distance runner looks to John Wooden, among others, in hopes of
bringing his college career to a successful close
By Donald Morrison
Daily Bruin Contributor
During his spare time at the UCLA Training Camp in Mammoth
Lakes, men’s cross-country runner Mebrahtom Keflezighi decided to
hit the books. However, these books were not for school.
"I read ‘They Call Me Coach,’ by John Wooden, and I’m finishing
up ‘Success is a Choice,’ by Rick Pitino," Keflezighi, a basketball
fan, said. "I’m learning a lot of lessons from the coaches and how
their athletes worked hard for them. I finished the Wooden book and
got a lot out of it, and I’m in the process of finishing Pitino’s
book, and I can’t stop reading it."
That could be because success is one choice that Keflezighi, a
fourth-year senior, likes.
In just three years of collegiate cross country and track and
field competition, he’s won a total of three NCAA titles, three
Pac-10 titles, and has been an All-American five times.
It’s no wonder Keflezighi is touted as the greatest distance
runner in UCLA history.
However, all his goals have not been fulfilled. There is one
more cross country season left for Keflezighi, and he wants end his
collegiate career with an NCAA title in cross country; he would
also like his teammates to be there with him.
"The team goal right now is to qualify for the nationals,"
Keflezighi said. "It would be special for the team and for myself.
I’ve been (to the NCAA championships) three years by myself as an
individual and to have a team go this year, especially with a lot
of other seniors like Matt Olin, Devin Elizondo and Brandon Del
Campo, that came here the same year I did, would be wonderful."
Keflezighi knows what it takes to win. Last cross country season
he won the Pac-10 title by setting a course record at Stanford with
a time of 23:45 over 8,000 meters.
In 1997, he had a stellar track season. First, Keflezighi
captured the NCAA indoor 5,000 meter title. He then went on to
become the first person since Ed Eyestone of BYU in 1985 to win
both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter outdoor track titles in the same
season.
Keflezighi won the 5,000m with a time of 13:44.17 and the
10,000m with a time of 28:51. He also set the school record for the
5,000m last spring, running a 13:33.97. Despite all his success,
Keflezighi feels there is more to accomplish.
"I have a lot of expectations for myself since I’m coming off a
great track season," Keflezighi said. "I would like to defend my
Pac-10 championship and hopefully go for a win at the NCAA
Championships. I think it’s doable as long as I’m healthy like I
was during track season."
"He’s always been determined," UCLA head coach Bob Larsen said.
"I don’t think that’s ever changed."
His highest finish at the NCAA cross country championships was
ninth in 1995. Last year, Keflezighi finished 10th. This year,
Larsen feels that Keflezighi has a legitimate chance to contend for
a national title.
"It’s a realistic goal," Larsen said. "It’ll be a tough goal,
but yes it’s realistic, especially after what he did during track
season. He’ll be one of the guys people will be looking at."
One guy that Keflezighi looked at when he was younger was his
older brother, Fitsum. Fitsum was the first runner in the family
and competed in cross country for a year for UC San Diego before an
injury forced him to quit.
"If it wasn’t for him I probably wouldn’t have known that there
was running in me," Keflezighi said.
Keflezighi also credits his father for giving him and his
siblings advice regarding sports.
"My dad said if you focus on one sport you can achieve
anything," Keflezighi said.
After leaving UCLA, Keflezighi aspires to run at the world-class
level. One day, he hopes to participate in the Olympics.
Keflezighi believes that his dream of torches and medals are
within his grasp. And as long as he trains correctly and stays
healthy he feels that he will be ready to give some of the best
distance runners in the world a run for their money.
But crossing finish lines aren’t the only goals that Keflezighi
is interested in. Because he enjoys the sport so much, Keflezighi
is also pondering the idea of coaching after his running days are
over.
Keflezighi’s success does not come without commitment.
Keflezighi runs seven days a week; averaging about 60 miles. He is
even willing to wake up at 6 or 6:30 in the morning to run.
"I think that was the key to my success in the 5,000 and 10,000
meter double," Keflezighi said of his early morning travels. "I
would do morning runs four to five days a week."
Or perhaps the key to Keflezighi’s success is that he just
chooses to succeed. THE PLAYERS MEBRAHTOM KEFLEZIGHIMen’s cross
countrySenior5’6 1/2", 123 pounds Keflezighi enters his final cross
counrty season with the Bruins determined to win his first NCAA
cross country title. Keflezighi has earned All-American honors five
times, three in cross country and two in track and field. He is a
three time NCAA champion in track, winning the NCAA indoor 5,000
meter title last year and becoming the first person since 1985 to
win the 5,000 and 10,000 meter NCAA titles in the same season last
year.