Recognizing Boulder’s importance to American distance running, USA Track & Field has decided to hold the prestigious U.S. cross country championships there in February 2007.
“I could sit here for hours and think of people whose careers have been formed by the Boulder running community,” said Jim Estes, USATF program manager for long distance running. “It’s an important part of American distance running.”
Citizen runners most likely will have an opportunity to race on the course, then watch America’s best cross country runners vie for spots on the teams that will represent the U.S. in the 2007 world championships in Mombasa, Kenya.
“I feel great, because it’s just such a wonderful event for Colorado,” said Pete Julian, an elite runner who heads the Boulder organizing committee.
Past or current U.S. cross country champions who live in the Boulder area include Alan and Shayne Culpepper, Colleen De Reuck, Ric Rojas, Frank Shorter and the reigning 12K champion, Dathan Ritzenhein. Ritzenhein edged former University of Colorado teammate Jorge Torres at this year’s event in Vancouver, Wash.
USATF selected Boulder over Vancouver and San Diego. The event will be held on the Flatirons Golf Course.
“Cool, it’s great, awesome,” Ritzenhein said after learning Boulder’s bid was successful. “I’ve golfed there many times, so maybe it will give me an advantage – I know the holes.”
Boulder organizers liked their chances in the bidding against Vancouver, which has hosted the event three times since 2001, but they got concerned when San Diego entered the process.
“As an athlete I thought, ‘That wouldn’t be a bad place to race U.S. cross, either,”‘ Julian said. “At the same time, our bid is just so good. We have really good prize money, we have national television, the course is fantastic, we’re going to have thousands of spectators.
John Meyer can be reached at 303-820-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com.
