Leading up to the February 13th U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, FloTrack will highlight the storylines of the contenders on both the men's and women's side.

Meb Keflezighi: 40 Just A Number For Defending Champ

Name: Meb Keflezighi

Age: 40

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Marathon PR: 2:08:37 (Boston 2014)

Best Trials Qualifier: 2:08:37 (Boston 2014)

Previous Trials Results: 2nd, 2:11:47 (2004); 8th, 2:15:09 (2008); 1st, 2:09:08 (2012)

Our Take: Every time Meb Keflezighi steps into the ring for another marathon now, the possibility that his 40 years will render him punchless hangs in the balance. The Fountain of Youth has been particularly hospitable to Meb, but assuming that tale is in fact mythology, not even he can conquer 26.2 miles forever.

Of course, this narrative is nothing new for the defending champion. Even less new is the one where he proves doubters wrong. He’s had no trouble with either. 

Coming off a seventh place finish in New York that concluded a very solid 2015 campaign, there has been zero sign of late that a meeting with father time awaits him in Los Angeles. He may be 40, but there is no doubt Meb has plenty of fight left to make Olympic team #4 on Saturday. 

Heading into his fourth Trials Marathon, Meb’s age continues to be more of an asset than liability, with his tremendous experience overpowering any physical limitations brought on by 17 years of professional running. Since becoming the oldest man to win this race four years ago, all Meb has done is finish fourth in the Olympics and become the first American to win Boston in 31 years, with three more top-10 major marathon finishes peppered in for good measure. 

This is a man who has made a career of proving people wrong, so it would seem unwise to be among the few who are leaving the Olympic silver medalist out of their top-3 this weekend.

Check out Ep. 1 of our series, MEB:
​​

The Olympic Trials Marathon can be watched live here.