Boulder’s Dathan Ritzenhein and Colleen De Reuck will compete this weekend in the U.S. Cross Country Championship at Van Cortland Park in the Bronx, N.Y.
Ritzenhein will attempt to defend his title against a tough field Sunday, including former Colorado runner Jorge Torres, who finished second to Ritzenhein in last year’s championship, and Abdi Abdiraham, who placed fifth in the 2005 New York City Marathon.
“I definitely want to repeat. I am not as sharp going in but I think my strength is so much better than last year,” Ritzenhein said.
A two-time 8K champion, De Reuck will be defending her win from last year, but will go into Saturday’s race having run a race in Boulder last month. She will run against a field that includes last year’s third- and fifth-place runners, Katie McGregor and Blake Russell.
“I think it is going to be a hard race. If it is bad conditions you want to go out hard to get to the front of the pack. I think there’s going to be a big group of girls until very late in the race,” De Reuck said.
CSU track coach to retire after 10 years
Colorado State track and cross country coach Del Hessel, who directed three individual NCAA outdoor track champions in the past decade, will retire at the end of the outdoor season.
“I’m almost 66,” he said. “It’s time to hang it up. I love track and field and cross country. I’m always yelling and screaming, but I’m running out of gas,” he said.
With Hessel as cross country coach since 1996 and head track coach since 1998, the program has produced more than 60 All-America commendations.
Hessel’s likely successor is assistant Brian Bedard, who heads the nationally prominent weight program. Hessel, a former CSU runner, said he loves the sport and watching his athletes work out, but, “It’s time for someone younger, faster and fitter to sit in this chair.”
DU women’s lacrosse starts with win
The University of Denver women’s lacrosse team began its season with an 18-4 win over Longwood University at Barton Stadium. Four Pioneers recorded hat tricks, with Tanya Fuchs and Karen Morton each scoring four goals.
