Alan Culpepper
Encyclopedia
Alan Culpepper is an American
distance runner and two time United States Olympian(2000 & 2004). Along with competing on four World Championship Teams, his accomplishments include finishing fourth in the Boston Marathon
in 2005, winning the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon and finishing 12th at the 2004 Olympic
Marathon in Athens
. His 2:09:41 at the 2002 Chicago Marathon
tied him with Alberto Salazar
for the fastest ever debut marathon by an American
, and remains his fastest marathon. Culpepper has won three U.S. Cross Country titles
and three track titles (two at 10,000m and one at 5,000m). His personal bests include 3:55.1 for the Mile, 13:25 for 5k and 27:33 in the 10K.
. In 1989 and 1990 he won five Texas state titles in cross country and track, but did not compete in his final season (1991).
He went on to attend the University of Colorado
in Boulder, Colorado
, where he developed into a national-class runner. In 1996 he won the NCAA outdoor 5,000m title and placed 10th at the Olympic Trials in that event; the following year he improved to 2nd at the USATF Nationals (behind Bob Kennedy
) and represented the USA at the 1997 World Championships.
In 1999 he won his first open national title, the USA Cross Country Championships. That spring he also won the 10,000m at the USATF Outdoor Championships and ran that event at the 1999 World Championships. In 2000, he took second in the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic Trials, overtaking champion Mebrahtom Keflezighi
in the final lap but not quite managing to pass him by the finish line.
Culpepper represented the U.S. at 10,000m at the 2001 World Championships as well. He won another U.S. track championship in 2002 when he took the 5,000m title. That fall, in his debut marathon in Chicago, he ran 2:09:41. In 2003, he won the U.S. 10,000m title.
After taking 2003 off from marathons, Culpepper ran his second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Birmingham, Alabama
. Renewing his long-time rivalry with Keflezighi, Culpepper bested "Meb" in 2:11:42, with the lead changing several times in the final miles. Culpepper then placed 12th at the Athens Olympic Marathon, which would have been the best performance by an American marathoner in several Olympics had Keflezighi not won the silver medal.
In 2005, Culpepper ran a 13:25.75 personal best in the 5,000 meter run at the 2005 Norwich Union British Grand Prix in London
, England
. He ran 2:11:02 to take fifth in the 2006 Boston Marathon.
At the 2007 US Cross-Country Championships, Culpepper won his third cross country title, finishing first in the 12,000m with a time of 37:09. (This race is featured in the documentary, SHOWDOWN - Five Elite Distance Runners, One Dream.)
(formerly Shayne Wille), also a University of Colorado graduate, in 1997. They have three sons, Cruz(b. 2002), Levi (b. June 2006), and Rocco (b. May 2008). Shayne also represented the United States in the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
On June 8, 2008 Culpepper won the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon in Denver, Colorado. He crossed the finish line of with a time of 1:07:57. He trains in Boulder County, CO, lives in Lafayette, CO and recently opened a store in Louisville, CO called Solepepper Sports.http://www.solepepper.com/?gclid=CMSu2NHEnJoCFRBbagodfiIg8w
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
distance runner and two time United States Olympian(2000 & 2004). Along with competing on four World Championship Teams, his accomplishments include finishing fourth in the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
in 2005, winning the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon and finishing 12th at the 2004 Olympic
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
Marathon in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. His 2:09:41 at the 2002 Chicago Marathon
Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London and Berlin Marathons, it is one of the five World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race...
tied him with Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar is an American marathon runner of the 1980s. Born in Cuba, Salazar emigrated to the United States with his family. They ultimately moved to Wayland, Massachusetts, where Salazar competed in track and field in high school...
for the fastest ever debut marathon by an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and remains his fastest marathon. Culpepper has won three U.S. Cross Country titles
USA Cross Country Championships
The USA Cross Country Championships is the annual national championships for cross country running in the United States. The championships is generally held in mid-February and it serves as a way of designating the country's national champion, as well as acting as the selection race for the IAAF...
and three track titles (two at 10,000m and one at 5,000m). His personal bests include 3:55.1 for the Mile, 13:25 for 5k and 27:33 in the 10K.
Early career
Culpepper graduated in 1991 from Coronado HS in El Paso, TexasEl Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
. In 1989 and 1990 he won five Texas state titles in cross country and track, but did not compete in his final season (1991).
He went on to attend the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, where he developed into a national-class runner. In 1996 he won the NCAA outdoor 5,000m title and placed 10th at the Olympic Trials in that event; the following year he improved to 2nd at the USATF Nationals (behind Bob Kennedy
Bob Kennedy
Robert Daniel Kennedy was a right fielder/third baseman, manager and executive in Major League Baseball.From 1939-1957, Kennedy played for the Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and Brooklyn Dodgers . He batted and threw right-handed...
) and represented the USA at the 1997 World Championships.
Professional career
Following Graduation from Colorado, Culpepper continued to live and train near Boulder.In 1999 he won his first open national title, the USA Cross Country Championships. That spring he also won the 10,000m at the USATF Outdoor Championships and ran that event at the 1999 World Championships. In 2000, he took second in the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic Trials, overtaking champion Mebrahtom Keflezighi
Mebrahtom Keflezighi
Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi is an American athlete, specializing in long distance running. He and his family were refugees from Eritrea via Italy to the United States, when he was age 12...
in the final lap but not quite managing to pass him by the finish line.
Culpepper represented the U.S. at 10,000m at the 2001 World Championships as well. He won another U.S. track championship in 2002 when he took the 5,000m title. That fall, in his debut marathon in Chicago, he ran 2:09:41. In 2003, he won the U.S. 10,000m title.
After taking 2003 off from marathons, Culpepper ran his second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. Renewing his long-time rivalry with Keflezighi, Culpepper bested "Meb" in 2:11:42, with the lead changing several times in the final miles. Culpepper then placed 12th at the Athens Olympic Marathon, which would have been the best performance by an American marathoner in several Olympics had Keflezighi not won the silver medal.
In 2005, Culpepper ran a 13:25.75 personal best in the 5,000 meter run at the 2005 Norwich Union British Grand Prix in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He ran 2:11:02 to take fifth in the 2006 Boston Marathon.
At the 2007 US Cross-Country Championships, Culpepper won his third cross country title, finishing first in the 12,000m with a time of 37:09. (This race is featured in the documentary, SHOWDOWN - Five Elite Distance Runners, One Dream.)
Personal
Culpepper married American distance runner Shayne CulpepperShayne Culpepper
Shayne Culpepper is a middle distance athlete. She is a two-time Olympian in track and field; in 2004 in the 5,000m and in 2000 in the 1,500m....
(formerly Shayne Wille), also a University of Colorado graduate, in 1997. They have three sons, Cruz(b. 2002), Levi (b. June 2006), and Rocco (b. May 2008). Shayne also represented the United States in the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Recent news
On February 10, 2007, Alan won the Open Men's 12K at the 2007 USA Cross Country Championships in Boulder, Colorado. He finished the race, held at Flatirons Golf Course, in a time of 37:09. http://boulder2007.com/results/USATFMOPENPLC.HTM It was Culpepper's third USA Cross Country victory; he also won in 1999 and 2003.On June 8, 2008 Culpepper won the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon in Denver, Colorado. He crossed the finish line of with a time of 1:07:57. He trains in Boulder County, CO, lives in Lafayette, CO and recently opened a store in Louisville, CO called Solepepper Sports.http://www.solepepper.com/?gclid=CMSu2NHEnJoCFRBbagodfiIg8w
Achievements
| Representing the | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Chicago Marathon Chicago Marathon The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London and Berlin Marathons, it is one of the five World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race... |
Chicago Chicago Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
6th | Marathon | 2:09:41 |
| 2004 | Olympic Games Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics At the 2004 Summer Olympics, the athletics events were held at the Athens Olympic Stadium from August 18 to August 29, except for the marathons , the race walks , and the shot put... |
Athens, Greece | 12th | Marathon | 2:15:26 Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's marathon The Men's Marathon event at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place on August 29, 2004 in the streets of Athens, Greece. The streets were recently painted for the event, which provided an excellent road surface for the athletes. Drawing upon the ancient origins of the race, the marathon began in... |