Alan Culpepper
UNITED STATES
BIRTHDATE:
September 15, 1972
PERSONAL BEST:
2:09:41 (Chicago, 2002)
WORLD MARATHON MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS:
05Nov06 ING New York City Marathon DNF
17Apr06 Boston Marathon 5th 2:11:02
09Oct05 The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 12th 2:13:20
29Aug04 Olympic Marathon, Athens 12th 2:15:26
13Oct02 The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 6th 2:09:41
ADDITIONAL MARATHON HIGHLIGHTS:
07Feb04 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon 1st 2:11:42
CAREER NOTES:
In his first race at the marathon distance in Chicago 2002, Culpepper tied Alberto Salazar for the fastest American debut ever. He earned five Texas state prep titles in track and cross country, but his breakthrough came in 1996 as a senior at the University of Colorado. There he won the 5,000m NCAA Championships and placed 10th in the Olympic Trials in the same distance.
Culpepper is one of the top Americans in the sport and has recorded a 10,000m best of 27:33.93 and a 13:25.75 in the 5000m. A five-time national champion in track and cross-country, Culpepper has competed on five World Championship teams and two Olympic teams: 10,000m in 2000 and the marathon in 2004. Track & Field News ranked him the number two marathoner in the U.S. in 2004 and 2005.
Culpepper won the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in only his second marathon and at the Olympics finished an impressive 12th. In 2005, he finished fourth in Boston, giving a nod to the progress of American distance runners, and was the top American finisher in Chicago (12th overall). For the second consecutive year Culpepper placed in the top five at the Boston Marathon, running 2:11:02 and finishing fifth in 2006. He also ran the 2006 ING New York City Marathon but did not finish.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Culpepper grew up in Texas and was influenced as a high school runner by the African runners who were recruited to nearby University of Texas at El Paso. He is married to two-time Olympian Shayne Culpepper and the couple has one son, Cruz. Culpepper says his Olympic experience was a highlight as both he and his wife won their U.S. Trials to qualify. (Shayne won the 5,000m Trials.) Culpepper started playing piano when he was a youth and still plays, although he added the guitar and bass during a college injury to keep busy. He double majored in geography and sociology at the University of Colorado and after college decided to make the state his home. Self-coached, he lives and trains just outside Boulder, Colo. He says the Olympics gave him a lot more confidence in his abilities. “I felt like it opened my eyes to the fact that I can run on tough courses, despite being a track athlete, and be successful.”
