DATHAN RITZENHEIN

DATHAN RITZENHEIN
Events: Distance/Marathon
Height: 5-8
Weight: 117
PR: 1,500m - 3:42.99 (2002); 2 mile - 8:11.74 (2007); 3,000m – 7:39.03 (2007); 5,000m - 12:56.27 (2009), 10,000m - 27:22.28 (2009); Half-Marathon – 61:26 (2006); Marathon – 2:11:07 (2007)
Born: Dec. 30, 1982
Current Residence: Eugene, Oregon
High School: Rockford (Mich.) High School
College: University of Colorado
Coach: Alberto Salazar
Agent: Peter Stubbs
Club: Nike

Career Highlights: 2008 Olympic Trials – Men’s Marathon runner-up; 2005 & 2008 USA 12 km Cross Country champion; 2003 NCAA XC Champion; U.S. men's 5,000m record holder; 2004 NCAA Outdoor 5,000m runner-up; 2001 World XC Junior bronze medalist

Thirteen years after Bob Kennedy set the American record of 12:58.21 in the 5,000 meters at the Weltklasse Zurich meeting, Ritzenhein smashed that record by almost 2 seconds at the same event on August 28, 2009 by finishing third in 12 minutes 56.27 seconds. It was an almost 20 second personal best for Ritzenhein, which makes him the second-fastest non-African in history and only the third American ever to run under 13 minutes. Also in 2009, Ritzenhein finished sixth in a personal best time of 27:22.28 in the 10,000 meters at the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany, posting the best time ever by an American at a World Championships, and the fastest time by an American in 2009. His sixth-place finish is also the best ever by an American at Worlds. Ritzenhein was the top finishing American in the men’s marathon at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, finish in ninth place in 2:11:59. Ritzenhein put on an impressive display in finishing as the runner-up at the 2008 Olympic Trials- Men’s Marathon with a personal best time of 2:11:06, which improved greatly upon his previous PR of 2:14:01 from 2006. Also in 2007, Ritz showed his versatility through his 9th place 10,000m finish at the World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan, and in setting a new personal best at 3,000m (7:39.03). In 2006, Ritzenhein had a landmark season where he posted personal bests in the 5,000m, 10,000m, half-marathon and also had an impressive marathon debut with his 11th-place finish at the New York City Marathon. In 2005 he set a then personal best in the 5,000 meters (13:22.23), and posted a win at the USA Cross Country Championships (12 km) and a shocking victory over many of the world’s best cross country runners at the 2005 Reebok XC Challenge in Belfast, Ireland. Just prior to the 2004 Olympic Trials, Ritzenhein incurred his third career stress fracture in his foot. Despite the pain, Ritzenhein competed at the Trials and ended his 10,000m race in Sacramento in 22nd place, fully breaking his foot in the process. Having already secured the “A” qualifying standard for the Olympics, Ritzenhein earned his spot on the team when Meb Keflezighi decided to only compete in the marathon at Athens, and Bob Kennedy was unable to finish his Trials race due to a sore Achilles. Ritzenhein was unable to finish the 10,000m in Athens due to pain from calcium deposits in his foot. Ritzenhein owned the American 10 km collegiate record (27:38.50), four Big 12 Conference titles (2003 cross country, 2004 indoor 3,000-m, 5,000-m and outdoor 5 km), four All-American titles (2001, 03 cross country, 2004 indoor and outdoor 5 km), the 10,000-m school record (27:38.50) and the nation’s only undefeated cross country season in 2003 to capture his first and only NCAA crown. He followed that performance by proving his dominance in cross country by winning the 2005 USA 12 km title by a whopping 25 seconds over the rest of the field. During 2003-2004, he won the Pre-National Invitational, Big 12 Cross Country Championship, NCAA Mountain Region Championship, and NCAA Championship just 10 weeks after resuming training following a femoral stress fracture to cap off the nation’s only undefeated season (792-0). He was the Big 12 Indoor Championships MVP and Performer of the Year with wins in a 3k meet record (8:01.23) and 5k. He was also a 5k All-American in 13:42.09, the second fastest indoor 5k in CU history. During the outdoor campaign, he finished sixth at the Stanford Invitational in an Olympic Trials “A” Standard, American Collegiate Record and 31-year CU School Record 27:38:50 in his first-ever 10k on the track. Eighteen hours later he claimed the Big 12 5 km title in Norman, Okla., and went on to claim the NCAA Midwest Region 5 km crown before an NCAA 5 km runner-up finish for his fourth, and subsequent final, career All-American certificate. Decided to forego his collegiate eligibility to turn pro during the summer of 2004. He believes that ultimately the marathon will be his strongest event…married Kalin Toedebusch on June 30, 2006…daughter Addison Lee Ann born September 29, 2007.

2009: Runner-up at USA Outdoors (27:58.59)...6th at World Outdoor Champs (27:22.28PR, U.S. U.S. Leader)...3rd in Zurich (12:56.27AR)...bests of 12:56.27, 7:47.4, 27:22.28.
2008: 9th at Olympic Games marathon (2:11:59)…8th at Olympic Trials in 10,000m (28:05.31)…USA Cross Country champ (35:03)…ranked #2 in marathon, #10 at 10,000m by T&FN...bests of 28:05.31 & 2:11:59.
2007: Runner-up at Olympic Trials - Men's Marathon (2:11:06PR)... 3rd in 10,000m at USA Outdoor Championships (28:31.88)…9th at 10,000m at World Outdoors (28:28.59)…4th in 2-mile at Nike Prefontaine Classic (8:11.74PR)…4th in 3,000m at Sheffield (7:39.03PR)…ranked #3 in U.S. at 3,000m & 10,000m, #6 at 5,000m in U.S., and #2 in U.S. in the marathon by T&FN…bests of 7:39.03, 28:28.59 & 2:11:06.
2006: 3rd at USA Outdoors 5,000m (13:16.61PR)…2nd at Stanford 10,000m (27:35.65PR)…11th at New York City Marathon (2:14:01-Debut)…3rd at Great North Run Half-Marathon (61:26PR)…ranked #8 in marathon, #3 in 10,000m, #3 in 5,000m in U.S. by T&FN…bests of 13:16.61, 27:35.65, 61:26, 2:14:01.
2005: USA 12 km XC champ (36:59)…62nd at World XC 38:46, suffered from severe blisters...5th in 3000 at adidas Track Classic (7:43.95)......won 2005 Reebok Cross Country Challenge in Belfast, Ireland (29:26)...did not compete at USA Outdoor Champs...1st at Eugene (13:22.23PR)...ranked #5 in U.S. at 3,000m by T&FN...bests of 7:43.95 & 13:22.23.
2004: 22nd in 10,000m at Olympic Trials (31:13.91- injured) …did not finish 10,000m at Olympic Games due to a calcium deposit in his foot…runner-up in the 5 km at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (13:52.13)… 6th at Stanford (27:38.50)…ranked #5 U.S. at 10,000m by T&FN…best of 27:38.50.
2003: 1st at NCAA XC (29:14.1)….redshirt his sophomore track season due to a right femur stress fracture… bests of 3:46.88, 8:14.96, 13:39.17.
2002: 5th at U.S. XC … 24th at world XC … Big 12 5,000m champion …4th in the 5k at the NCAA Outdoors (14:01.02)… bests of 3:42.99, 8:01.72, 13:22.77.
2001: 1st in 2 mile at National Scholastics … 11th in 5,000m at USA Outdoors … 2nd at Big 12 XC … 4th at NCAA XC (29:11) - best finish by a freshman since Colorado's Adam Goucher's runner-up in 1994, third-best ever… best of 13:44.70, 2mile best of 8:44.43.
2000: 1st in 2 mile at National Scholastics … Foot Locker XC champion … 2nd at US XC Championships, earning him a trip to the IAAF World Championships where he finished third, becoming the first American junior to medal (bronze) in the race since ’81... 2-mile best of 8:48.06, 1,600 best of 4:05.9, 3200 best of 8:41.10.
1999: Foot Locker XC champion... 2-mile best of 8:58.65.

9/30/09

Courtesy USATF