Ritzenhein named USA Track & Field Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Dathan Ritzenhein (Portland, Ore.) has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after he ran 2:07:47 Sunday at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon to become the third fastest American of all time.

Ritzenhein finished as the first American male and placed ninth overall. He slashed two minutes and eight seconds off his previous best time of 2:09:55, which he ran at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon in January. Ritzenhein moved up thirteen spots on the all-time U.S. marathon list from sixteenth to third. He also notably moved two spots ahead of his own coach, Alberto Salazar, who holds a personal best of 2:08:52.

Now in its 11th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on www.usatf.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2012 Winners: January 5, Landon Peacock; January 11, Kirubel Erassa; January 18, Shalane Flanagan; January 26, John Nunn; February 1, Gunnar Nixon; February 8, Jenn Suhr; February 14, Jillian-Camarena Williams; February 22, Brycen Spratling; February 28, Chaunte Lowe; March 7, Eric Broadbent; March 14, Ashton Eaton; March 21, Jeanne Daprano; March 27, Wallace Spearmon; April 3, Trevor Barron; April 9, Kevin Castille; April 18, Brittney Reese; April 25, Amy Sproston; May 2, Leo Manzano; May 9, Stephanie Brown-Trafton; May 16, Allyson Felix; May 23, Nick Hartle; May 30, Kimberlyn Duncan; June 6, Jessica Cosby and Meghan Vogel; June 13, Jesse Williams; June 20, Shelby Ashe; June 27, Ashton Eaton; July 4, Allyson Felix; July 12, Christian Cantwell; July 18, Gunnar Nixon; July 25 Evan Jager; August 1, Denzel Harper; August 15, Allyson Felix; August 23, Reese Hoffa; August 29, Carmelita Jeter; September 5, Matt Tegenkamp; September 12, Aries Merritt; September 19, Ben True; September 26, Willie Banks; October 3, Jan Holmquist; October 10, Dathan Ritzenhein




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