LOS ANGELES -- USA Track & Field and Walt Disney Pictures invited Team USA athletes Deena Kastor, Meb Keflezighi, Will Leer and Leo Manzano to the world premiere of McFarland, USA, in Hollywood, Monday evening.
 
McFarland, USA, a true against-all-odds story of the 1987 McFarland high school cross country team in an economically challenged community, connected with the athletes and reminded them of their early years in competitive distance running.
 
“McFarland, USA brought back great memories of the very start of my running career,” said Keflezighi, the reigning Boston Marathon Champion and Olympic marathon silver medalist. “If you want to learn how every runner begins his or her running journey, check out this movie.
 
“The film is sure to inspire you beyond the sport. Running is not an individual sport, it is a team sport. Better yet, it is a community sport.”
 
Kevin Costner stars in the film as a cross country coach in a small California town as he transforms a team of athletes into championship contenders.
 
“McFarland, USA, is an inspiring movie,” said Leo Manzano, Olympic silver medalist in the 1500 meters. “It reminds us that despite socioeconomic barriers, with hard work, determination, and the support from our community, we can overcome adversity and achieve our full potential. I highly recommend it.”
 
Also attending the premiere were steeplechaser Aisha Praught of the Nike Oregon Track Club and Keflezighi’s USATF Hall of Fame coach Bob Larsen.
 
McFarland, USA, opens in theaters nationwide Friday, Feb. 20. Click here for more information on the film or connect and follow the conversation on social media using @DisneyPictures and #McFarlandUSA.
 
About USATF
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org.