Alvaro Mejia (runner)
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Alvaro Mejia is a Colombian long distance runner who became a national hero after competing in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games 5,000 meter final. Mejia competed in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics in the 10,000 meters, where he placed tenth. Mejia also won the 1971 Boston Marathon in two hours, eighteen minutes and 45 seconds.
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[edit] 1971 Boston Marathon winner
In 1971, the 75th edition of the Boston Marathon had one of the closest finishes ever, as Mejia dueled almost the entire way with Pat McMahon, a native of Ireland and local Massachusetts resident. Mejia finally pulled away from McMahon less than 150 yards from the finish, clocking 2:18:45, just five seconds ahead of McMahon.
[edit] Coming to America
Mejia is married to Terri Stickles, the American bronze medalist in the 400 meter freestyle swim in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, where they met. Stickles brought Mejia to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1969.
From 1969 until 1985, Mejia dispensed running advice along with running shoes and apparel at a running store in San Mateo, California. During the 1970s, he competed as a member of the local West Valley Track Club (WVTC), at a time when the club often dominated team competition in Northern California. Several Colombian runners followed Mejia to train in Northern California and compete alongside Mejia for WVTC, including Victor Mora, who placed second in the 1972 Boston Marathon.
[edit] Coaching
Mejia remains active in the running community, coaching Colombian athletes including Alirio Carrasco, of Bogotá, who ran 2:12:09 at the Chicago Marathon in 2003.
[edit] External links
- BostonMarathon.org - 'Race Summaries', Boston Athletic Association
- WestValleyTC.org - "A Confluence of Champions: Mejia, Laris, Anderson, Dare, Clarke, Leydig Highlight WVTC Reunion", Chuck Schneekloth, West Valley Track Club
