In a big step forward for U.S. distance running, the men's winner of Sunday's New York City Marathon was an American, Meb Keflezighi -- the first American winner since 1982. He's been saluted across the country, including getting an invitation from David Letterman to do the Top 10 list.

For most Americans, watching an American win a major sporting event is a source of pride. And yet some American writers are claiming that he's not really one of us.

Foremost among them is the usually sane Darren Rovell of CNBC, who writes that the first American winner of the New York City Marathon in more than a quarter of a century is "not as good as it sounds" because Kaflezighi is "not American-born." Rovell explains that he won't break out the red, white and blue until an American who was born in the USA wins the race.

Yes, it's true, Keflezighi was born in Eritrea. He and his family came to America when he was a child, he starred in track and cross country at an American high school, he got an athletic scholarship to UCLA and became a U.S. citizen the same year he graduated, and then he became a professional distance runner. Prior to winning the New York City Marathon, his greatest accomplishment in the sport was winning the Olympic silver medal for Team USA in 2004.

Keflezighi's life is a great story -- a great American story. It was the American flag Keflezighi waved when he won the New York City Marathon, and no matter what anyone may say, Keflezighi is a real American.