once coached the great Steve Prefontaine and he was coaching Alberto Salazar the current world record holder in the marathon. Under Dellinger's guidance Tabb became the fifth fastest marathon runner in United States history by finishing 2nd at the 1983 Boston Marathon (2:09:31). Entering 1984 Tabb was a favorite to win a medal in the Olympic Marathon but a series of injuries derailed his hopes. " Meb Keflezighi influenced by Ron Tabb After former U.S. marathon star Ron Tabb watched Meb training one afternoon in San Diego, Tabb told Meb that he would make a great marathoner some day. Meb thought Tabb was crazy. And the 26.2-mile distance too. Meb is "The only athlete in history to win the Boston Marathon, the New York City Marathon & an Olympic medal" Fort Myers names former top marathoner Ron Tabb new girls cross country coach "A winner of 10 marathons in a career that ended in 1992, Tabb posted top-10 finishes in the Boston and New York Marathons while winning the Paris and Beijing marathons. Upon retiring as a professional runner, Tabb took his running experience and began coaching at the college level. His first coaching job was at Cuyamaca Community College in El Cajon, CA. where in 1993 he coached his men's team to a California Cross Country State Championship and was named California Community Coach of the year. His men's team was the number one ranked Community College team in the nation. It was during this time when he began coaching a high school student/athlete named Meb Keflezighi. Under Tabb's guidance Keflezighi led the nation in four events, 1600, 1 mile, 3200, and 2 mile. Keflezighi would follow Tabb's footsteps becoming a marathon runner and become the first United States Olympic marathon medalist since Frank Shorter in 1976 winning the silver medal in 2004 in Athens, Greece. Keflezighi would represent the United States in four Olympic games and win both the Boston and New York City Marathons. Tabb also was also the head men's and women's Head Cross Country and Track Coach at NCAA D-III Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon where coached dozens of NCAA National qualifiers and several NCAA All-Americans. Achievements 1983 Boston Marathon....2:09:31 2nd. 5th fastest marathon in U.S. history 1983 N.Y. City Marathon.2:10:48 3rd. 1st American 1983 Wang Australian Marathon..2:10:53 1st 2nd fastest marathon on Australian continent. 1980 Mardi Gras Marathon (New Orleans) 2:11:00 1st Louisiana