Athletes - Dathan Ritzenhein

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	Athletes - Dathan Ritzenhein

Dathan Ritzenhein is arguably one of the greatest American hopes for distance running in the last twenty years. His accolades include:

2000 & 2001 - FootLocker national high school cross-country champion 2003 - NCAA 5000m runner-up to Robert Cheseret 2003 - NCAA cross-country champion in his sophomore year at the University of Colorado 2004 - Athens Olympics qualifier in the 10k 2005 - USATF 12k cross-country champion 2005 - Winner of the Belfast International Cross-Country 2006 - 4th place at the Edinburgh Cross-Country, defeating Sergiy Lebid and Alistair Cragg

His personal bests include: 1,500m - 3:42.99 (2002) 3,000m – 7:43 (2005) 2 miles - 8:21 (2005) 5,000m - 13:21 (2005) 10,000m - 27:38.50 (2004) (Athens Olympic qualifying time)

Many argue that Ritzenhein has sub-27:00 10,000m potential, but others say that his true potential will be reached in the marathon later in his career. "Ritz" has been plagued by injuries, specifically stress fractures, that have hindered his seasons. Some question whether Ritz has the natural leg speed to compete someday with the Africans on the track. Most world-class 5000-10,000m runners can run 52-55 seconds for the last lap of a race, which takes tremendous turnover and natural speed at the end of a long distance race.

Ritz emerged as a cult figure among high school track fans during his junior and senior years at Rockford (Michigan) High, especially because he graduated the same year as Alan Webb, America's other budding distance prodigy. The 2001 FootLocker high school XC championships had a major buildup because of the impending clash between Ritz, Webb, and Ryan Hall, who later qualified for Helsinki in the 5000m as a professional running for Asics. Ritz scored a resounding victory over Webb and Hall in Orlando, Florida, running the 5k course in 14:29, a phenomenal time for a high school harrier on grass.

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