Athlet der Woche: Dathan Ritzenhein

Nach Olympia 2012 mit Rupp und Farah das nächste Ausrufezeichen des Nike Oregon Projects mit Headcoach Alberto Salazar:

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Dathan Ritzenhein had his best finish in a marathon today, placing ninth as the top American finisher at the Chicago Marathon.
The 29-year-old completed the course in 2 hours, seven minutes and 47 seconds, topping his previous best by more than two minutes and establishing a time surpassed by only two other Americans in Ryan Hall (twice) and Khalid Khannouchi (four times).
Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia won in 2:04:38.
Ritzenhein, a 2001 Rockford High School grad who now lives in Portland, Ore., had a time that averaged to 4:52 per mile. The next American finisher, Jeff Eggleston was nearly four and a half minutes behind at 2:12:03.
It was Ritzenhein’s first marathon since January, in Houston, at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. He finished fourth – one spot from placing - despite a then-personal best 2 hours, 9 minutes, 55 seconds.
He went on to qualify for the Olympics in the 10,000 meters – his third Olympic appearance – where he finished 13th in 27:45.89.
His last previous race was an impressive third place at the Philadelphia Rock ‘n’ Rock Half Marathon last month in 1:00.56.
Ritzenhein’s past marathons include a ninth in the 2008 Beijing Olympics (2:11:59), 11th in London in 2009 (2:10:00) and eighth in New York City in 2010 (2:12:33).