2017 BMW Dallas Marathon Announces Elite Ambassadors, Meb Keflezighi and Shalane Flanagan, Race Weekend Appearances

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Nov 28, 2017, 09:12 ET

DALLAS, Nov. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of the biggest names in American long-distance running, Meb Keflezighi and Shalane Flanagan, are coming to Dallas for the 2017 BMW Dallas Marathon, Half Marathon and SMU Cox School of Business Relay, December 8-10. Throughout the weekend, four-time Olympian Keflezighi and recent New York City Marathon winner Flanagan will appear at events around the city, including the start and finish line on race day Sunday, Dec. 10.

This marks Flanagan's first appearance at the BMW Dallas Marathon and her first professional appearance since winning the women's New York City Marathon this November with a time of 2:26:53 – an entire minute ahead of last year's winner. She is the first American woman to win the race in more than 40 years. She is also the national record holder for the 10K and 15,000 meter races in the United States. Flanagan will make the following appearances throughout the weekend:

Friday, Dec. 8

9 a.m. – Visit to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children for the BMW Dallas Marathon T-Shirt Presentation and BMW Toy Drive donation drop-off
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. – Meet-and-greet at the BMW Dallas Marathon Health & Fitness Expo

Saturday, Dec. 9

8 a.m. – Serve as the official starter of the Coors Light 5K/10K
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. – Additional appearances at the BMW Dallas Marathon Health & Fitness Expo
1 p.m. – Prep session with high school relay teams as they prepare for Sunday's race

Sunday, Dec. 10

8 a.m. – Help cheer on participants at the starting line of the 2017 BMW Dallas Marathon
10 a.m.-noon – Celebrate with race finishers at the finish line
1:30 p.m. – Interact with fans at Dallas City Hall Plaza

Keflezighi, who will be attending this year's marathon for the fourth consecutive time, knows a thing or two about what it's like to be a marathon winner. In 2014, he became the first American man to win the Boston Marathon since 1983, with a time of 2:08:37, and became the only marathoner in history to win the Boston Marathon, the New York City Marathon and an Olympic medal. This will be his first professional appearance since retiring after the 2017 New York City Marathon. He will make the following appearances on race day:

Sunday, Dec. 10

8 a.m. – help cheer on participants at the starting line of the 2017 BMW Dallas Marathon
1:30 p.m. – interact with fans at Dallas City Hall Plaza
10 a.m.-noon – celebrate with race finishers at the finish line

"We can't wait to have such accomplished athletes inspiring participants at this year's race," said Paul Lambert, president of the Dallas Marathon. "With the help of Meb and Shalane, we hope to make this year a race that BMW Dallas Marathon participants, volunteers and spectators won't forget."

In addition to Keflezighi and Flanagan, Hoka One One elite athletes will be around throughout race weekend and will participate in the Pro-Relay Challenge on race day. A detailed schedule of public appearances by BMW Dallas elite ambassadors is available on bmwdallasmarathon.com.

Registration for the 2017 BMW Dallas Marathon, Half Marathon, SMU Cox School of Business Relay and BMW Weekend Series is available. For more information or to register as a participant or volunteer, visit bmwdallasmarathon.com.

2017 BMW Dallas Marathon Elite Ambassadors

Shalane Flanagan, 36, an Olympic medalist and four-time Olympian, holds the American 10K record with a time of 30:52. In the 2014 Boston Marathon, she ran the fastest time ever by an American woman at 2:22:02. In 2017, she won the women's New York City Marathon in 2:26:53. She holds a personal best of 2:21:14, which she gained at the 2014 BMW Berlin Marathon. She is also a New York Times best-selling author and public speaker on the importance of healthy eating.

Meb Keflezighi, 42, is the only athlete in history to win the New York City Marathon, the Boston Marathon and an Olympic medal in the marathon. In 2014, he became the first American in 31 years to win the Boston Marathon, with a personal-best time of 2:08:37. He qualified for his fourth Olympic team in 2016 and ran for Team USA in the marathon at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He retired from competitive marathon racing in November 2017 after the New York City Marathon.

About the BMW Dallas Marathon

The Dallas Marathon is a nonprofit organization with a focus on promoting health and physical fitness through running events and related activities. Dating back to 1971, the organization hosts year-round events culminating with Dallas' largest and Texas' longest running marathon: the BMW Dallas Marathon. Now in its 47th running, the marquee race attracts runners from across the globe and hundreds of thousands of spectators to Dallas' largest single-day sporting event. The BMW Dallas Marathon racecourse highlights iconic Dallas landmarks and is recognized as the official marathon of the city of Dallas. Since naming a primary beneficiary in 1997, the Dallas Marathon has donated more than $3.9 million to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. For more information, visit dallasmarathon.com.

SOURCE BMW Dallas Marathon