View source for Alan Culpepper

{{short description|American long-distance runner}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Alan Culpepper
| image = Alan Culpepper.jpg
| imagesize = 250
| caption = Culpepper during the 2005 [[Boston Marathon]]
| full_name = Alan Lawrence Culpepper
| nationality = [[Americans|American]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|9|15}}
| birth_place = [[Fort Worth, Texas]]
| collegeteam = [[Colorado Buffaloes|Colorado]]
| height = 6 ft 1 in
| weight = 130 lb<ref name=USATF>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2008/Culpepper_Alan.asp|title=USATF Bio: Alan Culpepper (2008)|publisher=USA Track and Field}}</ref>
| sport = [[Track and field#Running|Track]], [[Long-distance running|distance running]] 
| event = [[5000 metres|5000 meters]], [[10,000 metres|10,000 meters]], [[marathon]]
| club =
| turnedpro =
| retired =
| pb = '''[[1500 meters]]''': 3:38.64<ref name="All-Athletics">{{cite web|url=http://www.all-athletics.com/node/82108|author=All-Athletics|title=Profile of Alan CULPEPPER|access-date=November 25, 2015|archive-date=April 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422135250/http://www.all-athletics.com/node/82108|url-status=dead}}</ref> <br> '''[[Mile run|Mile]]''': 3:55.12<ref name="All-Athletics"/> <br> '''[[3000 meters]]''': 7:47.30<ref name="All-Athletics"/> <br>  '''[[5000 meters]]''': 13:25.75<ref name="All-Athletics"/> <br> '''[[10,000 metres|10,000 meters]]''': 27:33.93<ref name="All-Athletics"/> <br> '''[[Marathon]]''': 2:09:41<ref name="All-Athletics"/>
| olympics =
| worlds =
| highestranking =
| coaching =
| updated =
| medaltemplates =
}}

'''Alan Lawrence Culpepper''' (born September 15, 1972) 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 Summer Olympics|2004 Olympic]] [[Marathon (sport)|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 [[United States|American]], and remains his fastest marathon. Culpepper has won three [[USA Cross Country Championships|U.S. Cross Country titles]] and three track titles (two at 10,000&nbsp;m and one at 5,000&nbsp;m). His personal bests include 3:55.1 for the mile, 13:25 for 5k and 27:33 in the 10k.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

==Running career==

===High school and collegiate===
Culpepper graduated in 1991 from [[Coronado High School (El Paso, Texas)|Coronado HS]] in [[El Paso, Texas]]. 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 at Boulder|University of Colorado]] in [[Boulder, Colorado]], where he developed into a national-class runner. In 1996 he won the [[NCAA]] outdoor 5,000&nbsp;m 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 (runner)|Bob Kennedy]]) and represented the USA at the 1997 World Championships.<ref name=USATF/>

===Professional===
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 10,000&nbsp;m at the USATF Outdoor Championships and ran that event at the 1999 World Championships. In 2000, he took second in the 10,000&nbsp;m 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.<ref name=USATF/>

Culpepper represented the U.S. at 10,000&nbsp;m at the 2001 World Championships as well. He won another U.S. track championship in 2002 when he took the 5,000&nbsp;m title. That fall, in his debut marathon in Chicago, he ran 2:09:41. In 2003, he won the U.S. 10,000&nbsp;m title.<ref name=USATF/>

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.<ref name=USATF/>

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 12,000&nbsp;m with a time of 37:09. (This race is featured in the documentary, SHOWDOWN – Five Elite Distance Runners, One Dream.)<ref name=USATF/>

==Personal life==
Culpepper married American distance runner [[Shayne Culpepper]] (formerly Shayne Wille), also a University of Colorado graduate, in 1997. They have four sons, Cruz (b. April 2002), Levi (b. June 2006), Rocco (b. May 2008), and Chase (b. Feb 2012). 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boulder2007.com/results/USATFMOPENPLC.HTM |access-date=February 11, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221014719/http://www.boulder2007.com/results/USATFMOPENPLC.HTM |archive-date=February 21, 2007|title=2007 USA Cross Country Championships, presented by Gleukos, Open Men's 12K Results by Place}}</ref> 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 with a time of 1:07:57.<ref name="CBS4 News">{{cite web|title=Culpepper Wins Rocky Mtn. Half Marathon |url=http://cbs4denver.com/sports/denver.half.marathon.2.743401.html |access-date=May 1, 2009 |publisher=[[KCNC-TV]] |date=June 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025043938/http://cbs4denver.com/sports/denver.half.marathon.2.743401.html |archive-date=October 25, 2008 }}</ref>

Alan assumed the head cross country coach position at [[Fairview High School (Boulder, Colorado)]] for the 2019 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Former Olympian Alan Culpepper takes over Fairview cross country program |url=https://www.buffzone.com/2019/07/30/former-olympian-alan-culpepper-takes-over-fairview-cross-country-program |website=CU Buff Zone |access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref>

Alan assumed the head cross country coach position at [[Erie High School (Colorado)]] for the 2023 season<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanesa |first=Courtney |date=2023-07-29 |title=Welcome Coach Culpepper to EHS XC |url=https://ehs-tigers.com/2023/07/29/welcome-coach-culpepper-to-ehs-xc/ |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=Erie High School |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Achievements==
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes}}
|-
! colspan="6" | Representing the {{USA}}
|-
| 2002
| [[Chicago Marathon]]
| [[Chicago]], United States
| 6th
| Marathon
| 2:09:41
|-
| 2004
| [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
| [[Athens]], Greece
| 12th
| Marathon
| [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon|2:15:26]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2008/Culpepper_Alan.asp Alan Culpepper] at [[USATF]]
* {{Team USA|new_id=alan-culpepper|old_id=CU/Alan-Culpepper|archive=20230127145933}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20080211162043/http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_1289.htm archive February 11, 2008])
* {{Olympics.com profile}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* [http://www.showdownrace.com/athletes.php ShowdownRace.com]

{{Footer US NC 5000&nbsp;m Men}}
{{Footer US NC 10000&nbsp;m Men}}
{{Footer US NC Marathon Men}}
{{Footer US NC Cross Country Men}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2004 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Culpepper, Alan}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male marathon runners]]
[[Category:Colorado Buffaloes men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]