McKeeman, a North Penn High graduate, improved on his eighth-place Broad Street Run finish last year when he was 4 seconds faster.
The former University of North Carolina runner is leaving Monday for Mammoth Lakes, Calif., where he trains with Deena Kastor, the American marathon record-holder and Olympic bronze medalist. McKeeman is helping Kastor train for the Olympic Trials.
Terence Mahon, the former Villanova runner who coaches Kastor, invited McKeeman to work with the former Philadelphia Distance Run (half-marathon) winner.
"She's really easy going," McKeeman said. "When I first went out there [7 years ago] I was a little worried it [because] this is her job; she's one of the best in the world. It's serious when we're running, but it's also a lot of fun."
Great forecast
Channel 6 meteorologist Cecily Tynan also had a successful morning. Her 1 hour, 2 minutes, 14 seconds clocking was her best Broad Street Run.
"I'm getting older and better," the smiling Tynan said.
Tynan, 43, was the second fastest female masters runner (40 and over) and 22nd overall among females. Doreen McCoubrie, 50, topped the female masters field in 1:00.37 (13th overall).
Last year, Tynan jokingly took credit for the sunny weather. "Actually, with the clouds [Sunday] it was ideal."
Tynan's husband, Greg Watson, finished in 55:04, fifth fastest masters time. Tynan's Channel 6 colleague Adam Joseph was pleased with his 1:07.07 run.
Alejandro Jimenez, 44, from Mexico, was the top masters runner (fifth overall) in 49:25.
The wise ol' doctor
The older Dr. Fred Bove gets, the wiser he is about running.
"If you get an injury when you're 40 years old, you say 'I have to [skip a race], I have lots more years,' " Bove said before Sunday's race. "You get a different perspective from injuries, particularly muscle injuries."
Bove, 74, a practicing cardiologist with Temple Hospital, prefers resting muscle injuries instead of operating when possible. "I tend to accept the injuries and rest the joints."
Bove finished in 1:44.55 on Sunday. His goal was 1:45. Pretty accurate.
Broad Street beat *
Greg Bielecki, 31, a former La Salle High and Haverford College runner, won the Richard Lagocki Award as the fastest Philadelphia resident (51:02). Bielecki finished 11th overall, the same as last year. Lagocki, a city employee, died during the Broad Street Run 14 years ago.
* Michelle Bjork, assistant managing editor for the Daily News, finished in 2:18.19.
* Catherine Pearlman, wife of author Jeff Pearlman, completed her first Broad Street Run in 2:00.3.
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