Dathan Ritzenhein: Future Triathlete?

January 12, 2010

Collegiate

Former CU Standout Ponders Multisport

USA Triathlon

January 12, 2010 (Colorado Springs, CO) – Former University of Colorado track and cross country standout and American record holder in the 5,000 meter run, Dathan Ritzenhein, 27, may hit the triathlon scene sometime in the future. In his latest blog, Ritzenhein recalls that his start in endurance sports came from triathlon training alongside his father.

Ritzenhein currently competes as a professional for Nike and broke the American record in the 5,000 meters at the Weltklasse Golden League meet in Zurich, Switzerland last August. His time of 12:56.27 eclipsed the previous record of 12:58.21, set by Bob Kennedy at the same meet in 1996. Ritzenhein became only the third American to run under 13 minutes in the event.

He also made two Olympic teams – Beijing in the marathon (finished as the top American in 9th) and Athens in the 10,000 meters (injury).

Career highlights

1999 - Foot Locker national high school cross-country champion
2000 - Foot Locker national high school cross-country champion
2001 - IAAF World Junior Cross-Country Championships bronze medalist
2001 - 4th place at NCAA Cross-Country Championships
2003 - NCAA 5,000 m runner-up to Robert Cheseret
2003 - NCAA and Big 12 cross-country champion while at the University of Colorado at Boulder
2004 - Athens Olympics qualifier for the United States in the 10,000 m race
2005 - USATF 12k cross-country champion
2005 - Winner of the Belfast International Cross-Country
2006 - 4th place at the Edinburgh Cross-Country, defeating Serhiy Lebid and Alistair Cragg
2006 - 11th place at the ING New York City Marathon.
2007 - 3rd place at the U.S. Cross Country Championships
2007 - 9th place 10,000 m at IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan
2007 - 2nd place at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials, qualifying for the Beijing Olympics
2008 - 1st place at the U.S. Cross Country Championships
2008 - 9th place, 1st American, at the Men's Olympic Marathon in Beijing, China, with a time of 2:11:59
2009 - 2nd place at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships.
2009 - 11th place, 2nd American, at the 2009 Flora London Marathon
2009 - 2nd place, 10000m, USA Outdoor Championships, 27:58.59
2009 - 6th place, 10000m, at IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany
2009 - 3rd place, 5000m, at IAAF Golden League Meet in Zurich setting American Record in 12:56.27
2009 - 3rd place, half marathon, at IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, running the 2nd fastest time by an American with a time of 60:00

Personal best times

1,500 m - 3:42.99 (2002)
3,000 m – 7:39.03 (2007)
2 miles - 8:11.74 (2007)
5,000 m - 12:56.27 (2009)*American Record
10,000 m - 27:22.28 (2009)
Half-Marathon - 1:00:00 (2009)
Marathon - 2:10:00 (2009)