In 2014, American marathoner Meb Keflezighi won the Boston Marathon in its first running since the 2013 bombings.
Keflezighi did so with the names of the victims of those attacks and manhunt - Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, Lingzi Lu, and Sean Collier - on his Boston Marathon bib.
“For me to be able to win it with Martin’s name, and Sean, and Krystle, and Lingzi would mean a lot,” said Keflezighi, while speaking with Boston 25′s Gene Lavanchy about that 2014 victory.
On Monday, during the 2022 running of the race, Keflezighi was there again at the finish.
This time to greet Henry Richard, the older brother of Martin Richard, as Henry crossed the finish line during his first attempt at running the Boston Marathon and to put a marathon medal around Henry’s neck.
“So to put that medal around one of the family members who actually ran the marathon - and kind of passing on the torch a little bit; kind of gave it a little bit of a healing process. After nine years later, to put it on Henry, what an honor.”
“What a wonderful day it was,” said Keflezighi. “His dad Bill sent me a text saying, hey Henry’s going to run the marathon for the first time, and I said, well if nobody has been designated to put the medal around his neck, I’d be more than happy to do it.”
Keflezighi spoke with Boston 25 about that emotional moment with Henry at the finish, which brought tears to Meb’s eyes.
“I’m so proud of him,” said Keflezighi “Obviously, it was very sentimental, emotional, and exciting at the same time, but I feel so proud of Henry for conquering - to have the courage to finish the marathon and run in honor of his younger brother and have Denise his mom, and Jane his sister and Bill his dad there to greet him.
“I feel honored to put that medal, a well-earned medal, nine years later, on his neck,” said Keflezighi.
“He was very strong. What a transformation from 2014 when I met him to now, said Keflezighi of Henry Richard. “I was taller than him at one point and now he’s a big strong man.”
Keflezighi was asked if he feels like he has a special connection with the Richard family.
“Absolutely. I met them in 2014. I was at the 2013 Boston Marathon - as a spectator - and I left five minutes before the bombing occurred because I had an appointment.”
“They were out of town the year I won it, but someone gave them a call to say- hey there is an American leading the pace and he has your son’s name (on his bib),” said Keflezighi.
Keflezighi said he met the Richard family at an event for a charity team in 2014 and told them to please let him know if he could ever do anything for them.
“I gave them a hug and prayed for them and said please reach out,” said Keflezighi “Ever since we became friends.”
“We can never forget like he said, but you do the best you can to try to handle the situation - and to have them there yesterday and to see their son finish across that finish line is another meaningful time in their life,” said Keflezighi. “You can never forget, but have something else to talk about as well, in his honor.”
The Martin Richard Foundation does a great job to fundraise for his cause - peace, no more hurting people - that’s his message, and that’s the image I have of Martin,” said Keflezighi.
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