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Ritzenhein Wins 2005 USA 10 km Championship
at Food World Senior Bowl Run
USATF Communications
By Hank Brown
November 5, 2005
Winning
by over 30 seconds and running a course record 28:11, Dathan Ritzenhein
won his first U.S. road championship at the Food World Senior Bowl
Charity Run 10 km in Mobile, Ala. on Saturday.
Ritzenhein
quickly took the lead and was never challenged as he stalked Marc
Nenow's U.S. 10 km record of 27:48 through the first 3 miles, but the
warm conditions combined with oppressive humidity hampered his record
attempt.
"I wanted to give myself a shot at
27:48," said Ritzenhein after winning his first U.S. road title. "I
wanted to go out on that pace. I held it forthree orfour miles, but
then I kind of lost it. It was definitely hot and humid. I just wanted
to be aggressive. I'm happy to get the course record at least."
Behind
Ritzenhein, Matt Gonzales and Brian Sell ran together, taking turns in
the lead of the chase pack until Gonzales gradually pulled away atfive
miles and hung on for second place in 28:39. Sell held on to third in
28:48, with Josh Moen fourth and Fernando Cabada rounding out the
top-five.
The women's race was not a national
championship, but race director Vic Knight recruited some of America's
best female distance stars to Mobile. USA 10 km Champion Katie McGregor
took the lead early and was in control the entire 10 kilometers. She
won in 32:51 with Missy Buttry well back in 33:35. Jenny Crain claimed
third, Kate O'Neill fourth, and Alicia Craig fifth.
The
USA Men's 10 km Championships concluded the 2005 USA Running Circuit
(USARC) for men. Abdi Abdirahman is the champion in the men's standings
with 48 points ahead of defending USARC Champion Ryan Shay with 44 and
Sell finishes third with 41.
A USA Track &
Field road series, the USARC features USA Championships from 5 km to
the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The eleventh
edition for the men, the 2005 circuit had nine events.
The
first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12
for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500
grand prix purse ($6000, $4000, and $2500) for the top three men and
women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon
Championships will be doubled.
The mission of the
USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners.
Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over
$4 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.
For more information on the 2005 USA Men's 10 km Championships visit www.usatf.org.
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