New York – Boulder runner Dathan Ritzenhein struggled Sunday and finished a distant fourth in his bid to defend his U.S. Cross Country Championships 12K title, but he still earned a trip to Japan in April for the World Cross Country Championships.
Ritzenhein finished in 35 minutes, 27 seconds, well behind of surprise winner Ryan Hall (34:38). Jorge Torres, also of Boulder, finished second in 35:05, and another Boulder runner, Jason Hartmann, was fifth in 35:39. The top six finishers earn a berth on the U.S. World Championships team that will compete April 1-2 in Fukuoka.
After running in a wind chill of 10 degrees at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, a pale and faint- looking Ritzenhein needed medical attention after the race and was bundled in a blanket.
“I went into the race feeling really good and I was determined to make the pace fast,” said Ritzenhein, 23, who was up with the leaders for the first four laps of the eight-lap race. “Then after a couple of loops I wasn’t feeling so good, and I was just hoping the other guys weren’t feeling really good either and that I could hold on.
“Then at the end of four laps we came to the top of the hill and breathing-wise I felt fine, strong, but I just didn’t have the turnover, there was weakness in my legs.”
Making the World Championships team helped take away some of the pain from his disappointing finish.
“(Making the team) was the main goal, but I really wanted to win and I’m very disappointed that I didn’t,” Ritzenhein said. “My pride is hurt more than anything. Definitely the race didn’t go as I would have liked. Hopefully, I can go (to the worlds) and make redemption for last year’s performance.”
After finishing fourth in Saturday’s 4K race, Torres, 25, came back with his second consecutive 12K runner-up finish.
“Overall it was a good weekend,” said Torres, who added he is likely to run the 12K at the World Championships. “I’m pleased with my results.”
Carrie Tollefson, a 2004 Olympian, won the women’s 4K in 12:32. The 1999 NCAA athlete of the year from Villanova finished ahead of Lauren Fleshman (12:37), a three-time NCAA title holder while at Stanford. Blake Russell, winner of the 8K on Saturday, took third in 12:39.
