FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein to Make His Return to the
Streets of New York on November 7
Race will be the Alberto Salazar protégé's first marathon in more than
18 months
New York, July 20, 2010-Two-time U.S. Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein will
return this year to the ING New York City Marathon, the race in which he
made his marathon debut in 2006. The race will be his first marathon since
London in April 2009.
"Four years after making my debut in New York City, I'm ready to come back
and restart my marathon career with a new appreciation for the event," said
Ritzenhein. "I'm older, stronger, and less naïve, but I have even more
desire to come back and try to win this amazing race. Winning the ING New
York City Marathon will not be easy, but I know I have a chance to do
something incredible on November 7."
Ritzenhein, 27, who is coached by three-time New York City Marathon winner
Alberto Salazar, has been sidelined for much of this year with nagging
injuries and a stress fracture in his right foot, but he is optimistic that
he'll be at full speed by race day.
"I've stayed in shape through running both outside and on the Alter-G
treadmill, and I've cross-trained very hard, so my fitness level is good,"
said Ritzenhein. "I just need to get in some solid, consistent, and
specific training and I'll be in great shape."
Ritzenhein joins a men's field that is shaping up to be among the best
ever, featuring fellow American and defending ING New York City Marathon
champion Meb Keflezighi and world marathon record-holder Haile Gebrselassie
of Ethiopia, who will be making his New York marathon debut.
"Another one of America's finest distance runners will be joining us on the
streets this fall," said Wittenberg. "Dathan is back after his injury and
is poised to have a truly great race. We know the streets of New York are
ready to welcome him back."
Ritzenhein, of Portland, OR, also ran well in New York at the 2008 Olympic
Team Trials - Men's Marathon, in which he finished second and made the
Olympic team. He went on to finish ninth at the Beijing Games. In 2009,
Ritzenhein set his marathon personal best in London, where he finished in 2
hours, 10 minutes. Also in 2009, he took the bronze medal at the World
Half-Marathon Championships in a time of 1:00:00.
Ritzenhein has had a strong career on the track and the cross-country
course as well. He is the reigning USA cross country champion and also won
in 2005 and 2008. He finished sixth in the 10,000 meters at the 2009 IAAF
World Championships in Berlin, and he held the U.S. 5000-meter record at
12:56.27 until it was broken this year by Bernard Lagat.
Ritzenhein and his wife, Kalin, are expecting their second child by the end
of this week. They have a 2-year-old daughter, Addison.
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