Events: Distance
Height: 6-1
Weight: 130
PRs: 1,500m 3:38.64 (1999); 5,000m 13:25.75 (2005); 10,000m 27:33.93 (2001); Marathon 2:09:41 (2002)
Born: 1972, in Fort Worth, Texas
Current Residence: Louisville, Colo.
High School: Coronado HS, El Paso, Texas '91
College: Colorado '96
Coach: self
Agent: Ray Flynn
Club: Nike
Career Highlights: 2004 Olympic Trials marathon champion; 12th at 2004 Olympic marathon; 2002 U.S. 5,000m champ; 1999 & 2003 U.S. 10,000 champ; 2-time Olympian; 1996 NCAA Outdoor 5,000 champion; 3-time U.S. 12 km cross country champ (’99, ’03, ’07)
In 2007, Culpepper won his third national 12 km cross country championship to go along with a fourth place finish at the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships in the 10,000m. Following a bout of anemia during the summer months of 2006, Culpepper competed well in the fall with a win at the Denver Half-Marathon on October 15. In April, he was fifth at the Boston Marathon. On April 18, 2005, in only the fourth marathon competition of his career, Culpepper ran 2 hours, 13 minutes, 39 seconds to finish fourth in the best placing by an American male at the Boston Marathon since Dave Gordon placed fourth (2:13:30) in 1987. The 2004 Olympic Trials marathon champion, Culpepper also had the best U.S. time at Boston since Keith Dowling's 2:13:28 in 2002. Long one of America’s top cross country, 5,000 and 10,000m runners, Culpepper ran 2:09:41 in his marathon debut at Chicago in 2002 at the time, tying him with Alberto Salazar for the fastest American debut in history. In his second marathon, he won the 2004 Olympic Trials. Alan’s father, Dan Culpepper, ran the mile for TCU. Alan got his start running in a summer track program, and as a prep, he won five Texas high school championships, but declined to run for his team his senior year: "My club coach was pretty knowledgeable. There had always been a conflict between that program and my school program. So I just ran unattached in college meets as a senior." He graduated with a degree in geography and sociology from Colorado in 1996, and he enjoys playing the guitar and piano. He married 1500m runner Shayne Wille on November 9, 1997. Shayne and Alan have two sons, Cruz Samuel, born April 10, 2002, and Levi James born June 9, 2006. The Culpeppers own a graphic design business named Culpepper Mill, which, among other things, produces shirt designs for road races as well as business cards.
2008: DNF at Olympic Trials – Men’s Marathon
2007: 4th in 10,000m at USA Outdoors (28:34.01)…USA Cross Country champion (27:09)…did not finish Olympic Marathon Trials…12th at Stanford (27:50.05)…ranked #6 in U.S. at 10,000m by T&FN…best of 27:50.05.
2006: 5th at Boston Marathon (2:11:02)…1st at Denver Half-Marathon (1:04.52)…ranked #5 in U.S. in marathon by T&FN…bests of 2:11:02 & 1:04.52.
2005: 4th at Boston Marathon (2:13:39)...12th at Chicago Marathon (2:13:20)ran 13:25.75PR at Norwich Union Grand Prix...ranked #2 U.S. marathoner in U.S. by T&FN...bests of 2:13:20 & 13:25.75.
2004: Olympic Trials marathon champion (2:11:42)12th at Olympic Games (2:15:26)...ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 2:11:42.
2003: USA Outdoor 10,000m champion (27:55.36) 9th at USA Outdoor 5,000m (13:51.66) 14th at World Outdoor Champs 10,000m (28:14.92)...USA 12 km Cross Country champion (38:22)did not compete at World XC1st at Stanford (27:41.90 U.S. Leader)...ranked #1 at 10,000m in U.S. by T&FN...bests of 13:51.66 & 27:41.90.
2002: USA Outdoor 5,000m champ (13:27.52PR)3rd in 10,000m at USA Outdoors (27:48.09)3rd at USA Cross Country 12km Champs (35:51), 3rd at USA 15k Champs at Gate River Run6th in debut marathon at LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon (2:09:41)ranked #1 at 5,000m, #3 at 10,000m in U.S. by T&FN...bests of 13:27.52, 27:48.09, 2:09:41.
2001: 2nd in 5000m (13:29.72) & 3rd in 10,000m (28:39.64) at USA Outdoors 18th at World Outdoor Champs (28:18.44)2nd in 12km at USA XC nationals; chose not to compete at World XC champs. Ran PR 27:33.93 at Cardinal Invitational May 4 to become 6th fastest American all-time...ranked #4 at 3,000m, #5 at 5,000m, #3 at 10,000m in U.S. by T&FN...bests of 13:29.66 and 27:33.93.
2000: Ran his season best of 28:03.35 while placing 2nd in Olympic Trials 10,000m ... running with the flu, placed 17th in the 1st round of 10,000m at Olympics (29:00.71)...2nd at USA Long Course Cross Country Champs...ranked #3 in U.S. at 10,000m...best of 28:03.35.
1999: Won USA XC long course race...top American finisher at World Cross Country (21st)...won 10,000m at USA Outdoors (28:22.46)...dnf final at World Champs...ranked #5 in 5000, #2 in 10,000 in U.S. by T&FN...bests of 3:38.64, 7:53.26, 13:32.83 and 27:39.27.
1998: Won 3000 at Rio GP (7:47.57 PR)...2nd in 5000 (13:41.13) at USA Outdoors ...5th in 5000m at Prefontaine Classic (13:29.69) ...ranked #3 U.S. at 5000m and 3000m by T&FN...bests of 13:29.69 and 7:47.57.
1997: 2nd in 5000m at USA Outdoors (13:48.90)...8th in 5000m heat (13:34.74) at World Champs...7th at USA XC Champs...ranked #2 U.S. at 5000m, #7 U.S. at 10,000, #5 U.S. at 3000m by T&FN...bests of 13:28.64 and 28:25.57.
1996: Won 5000m at NCAA Outdoors (13:47.26)...6th in NCAA Indoor 3000m (8:13.11)...10th in 5000m at Olympic Trials (14:14.37)...2nd in 3000m (8:05.90) at Big 8 Indoor; anchored winning distance medley (9:50.02)...2nd in Big 8 1500 (3:39.77)...24th in USA XC Champs...ranked #8 U.S. at 5000m by T&FN...bests of 13:31.7 and 3:39.77.
1995: 5th in 3000m at NCAA Indoor (8:08.31)...did not compete outdoors...4th in Big 8 Indoor mile (4:06.42); 4th in 3000m (8:14.15)... 3rd in District VII XC...24th in NCAA XC Champs...best of 4:06.42 (mile) and 8:08.31 (3K).
1994: 11th NCAA XC Champs3rd at Big 8 Indoor mile (4:06.71)11th in NCAA Indoor 5000m (14:07.74)2nd in 1500m (3:49.76), 6th in 5000m (14:44.17) at Big 85th in 1500m heats (3:49.45) at NCAA Outdoorsbest of 13:53.74 and 3:42.38.
1993: 31st in NCAA XC Champsbest of 3:49.38 (1500).
1992: Did not compete; injured IT bands.
1991: Did not compete for high school team in his final prep seasonbests of 3:50.05 (1500m) and 14:58.05 (5k).
1990: Won Texas HS state 1600m and XC titlesbest of 4:12.34 (1600).
1989: Won Texas HS state 1600m, 3200m and XC titlesbest of 9:15.9 (3200m).