Half marathon will be Meb's first race in masters division

SAN DIEGO (AP) Meb Keflezighi will run his first competitive race in the masters division when he competes in the Suja Rock `n' Roll San Diego Half Marathon on Sunday.

The race has been chosen as U.S. Track & Field's Masters Half Marathon National Championships.

''It's going to be the same distance,'' Keflezighi said. ''I hope nobody 40 years old or older will pass me.''

He turned 40 on May 5.

It's also going to be his first competitive race since finishing eighth in the Boston Marathon. Keflezighi had a stirring victory in the 2014 Boston Marathon.

''My goal is to go hard and be competitive,'' he said. ''I feel like the recovery is easier this year than last year because I didn't use all my energy the last three miles. I had the issue with throwing up but I was saving my energy for the last two miles of the race because obviously I couldn't do what I did last year.''

Keflezighi was the pacesetter for the Rock `n' Roll Half Marathon last year.