BOULDER — The last time three-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein stepped foot in this city, he battled alongside a stacked field of CU running legends at the 2007 USA Cross Country Championships: Adam Goucher, Jorge Torres, Alan Culpepper.
Culpepper . Ritzenhein, then 24, ended up third after going out especially hard and fading at the finish.
Now eight years later and 32 years old, Ritzenhein remains the final proverbial CU soldier on the battlefield, the other three having finished their careers.
He’ll be racing for a fourth U.S. cross country title Saturday in the 12K men’s open race at the Flatirons Golf Course at 1 p.m., the second straight year the U.S. championships have been here, attempting to add to ones he captured in 2005, 2008 and 2010. Only a handful have ever won four.
“I always said I was going to come back (to Boulder) all the time and train and stuff. And things go by, life happens, you just keep on going, and I can’t believe it’s been that long,” said Ritzenhein, who is living and training once again in his native Michigan. “To win this time around will probably be the hardest. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
He’ll be racing this year against another strong field — stronger than last year’s (Ritzenhein didn’t race). It includes , and Ben True, who finished sixth at 2013 worlds, leading the U.S. men’s team to an astonishing silver medal, the team’s highest finish since 1984.
Derrick already appears to be in top shape, having won the long course race at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country meet Jan. 10 in Scotland. Ritzenhein, entered in the 4K short course at the same event, finished third, four days after winning a 10K cross country race in Italy.
“I certainly would say there’s more pressure (to win),” Derrick said. “Obviously we have a great, deep field. So whoever wins is going to have to run really, really hard.”
Regardless of what happens, Ritzenhein won’t be representing the U.S. on the world team, he said Friday. His career focus has turned primarily to the marathon, and the March 28 race in Guiyang, China, is too close to Boston on April 20 to offer enough time to properly recover. For Ritzenhein, his moment is all Saturday, when weather is expected to be in the mid-60s with partly sunny skies.
Unlike last year’s race, the top six this year in each of the open and junior races will be offered a spot on the world team representing the U.S.
His decision to forgo an expected spot to the world team is a reminder that even a love for cross country can’t overcome the need to prepare for more lucrative and high-profile events. Marathons offer large prize purses, and track and field draws broad public interest in the U.S. every four years. Cross country, meanwhile, mostly exists in obscurity outside of the collegiate and high school ranks.
In contrast, the women’s 12:15 p.m. 8K race will be absent some of the sport’s biggest names. Last year’s champion, Amy Van Alstine, is out recovering from an injury. Jenny Simpson, who finished second last year, is in Boston at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. Abbey D’Agostino, a past NCAA champion who had been training in Boulder leading up to this event, pulled out this week with an injury. Shalane Flanagan, who has helped the U.S. women succeed on the world stage, will also not race.
Among the field: Boulder Track Club’s Laura Thweatt, a 2011 CU alum from Durango; Sara Hall, who last raced here at the Bolder Boulder; Boulder Running Club’s Brianne Nelson; and Northern Arizona Elite’s Kellyn Taylor (fourth last year).
“I have a lot of respect for racing at altitude,” Hall said. “Bolder Boulder nearly killed me last year. It’s nice to come down here from where we’re living and training.”
Locals, including Thweatt, will have a critical advantage because of altitude training. Thweatt repeated as champion at the club cross country championships in December in Pennsylvania.
“You don’t get too many opportunities to run cross country,” Thweatt said, “so I think having a field like we see this weekend with the women and the men, and just how much depth there really is, it’s going to be really cool to continue cross country opportunities (in the future). I think a lot of athletes like us really enjoy racing in it, and I hope to see it grow.”
Daniel Petty: dpetty@denverpost.com or
Race schedule
8:15 a.m. — Masters Women’s 6K
9 a.m. — Masters Men’s 8K
10 a.m. — High School Girls 4K
10:25 a.m. — High School Boys 4K
10:55 a.m. — Junior Women’s 6K
11:30 a.m. — Junior Men’s 8K
12:15 p.m. — Open Women’s 8K
1:00 p.m. — Open Men’s 12K
Runners to watch
Men: Dathan Ritzenhein, Chris Derrick, Ben True, Sean Quigley, Garrett Heath, Ryan Vail, Robert Curtis, Jacob Riley
Women: Laura Thweatt, Emma Bates, Brianne Nelson, Kellyn Taylor, Sara Hall, Mattie Suver, Alisha Williams, Rochelle Kanuho
