HALL READY FOR SAN DIEGO TURF BATTLE Ryan Hall Ready for US Cross Showdown With Ritzenhein By David Monti (c) 2008 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved February 12, 2008
The
first time Ryan Hall raced the 12-K event at the USA Cross Country
Championships it was in frosty conditions in New York City's Van
Cortlandt Park in February, 2006. Spectators shivered, but Hall was on
fire, romping to victory over his closest rival, Jorge Torres, by 27
seconds.
It is was in that race that Hall, last November's U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon champion, saw the future.
"That
kind of opened up my eyes a little bit to the longer distances," said
Hall on a conference call today from his home in Big Bear Lake, Calif.,
where he is preparing to leave for the U.S. Cross Country Championships
in San Diego next Saturday.
Later in 2006, Hall extended his
racing range by 8 more kilometers, winning the U.S. 20-K title and
finishing 11th at the IAAF World Road Running Championships at the same
distance. Under coach Terrence Mahon and Team Running USA California,
the Asics-sponsored athlete moved to the half-marathon for the first
time in January, 2007, shattering Mark Curp's 21 year-old U.S. record
and becoming the first American to dip below the one hour mark (59:43).
Last April he made his marathon debut in London in 2:08:24, the
fastest debut ever by an American, setting him up for his Trials
victory in New York City.
"It was a really special race for me,"
Hall told the New York Track Writers luncheon of the Trials. "It was
definitely the highlight of my career so far."
Gearing up again
for the Flora London Marathon on April 13, Hall and coach Mahon find
next Saturday's USA Cross Country Championships to fit well with their
training. A second 12-K title is certainly not out of the question.
"It's
definitely a possibility," said Hall of a victory on Saturday. "I'm
very fit (but) I'm not going to guarantee victory or anything."
The
2000m loop on which Hall and his rivals will race in Mission Bay Park
is mostly flat for the first half, but the second half features five
small hills. Overall the course should be fast, especially compared to
the thick mud (and high altitude) of Boulder, Colo., where the meet was
held last year.
"It seems really flat and fast," commented Hall,
but he cautioned reporters that recent rains in Southern California
could make it stickier than usual.
Last year's champion, Alan
Culpepper, will not be defending his title, and runner-up Adam Goucher
is coming back slowly after a foot surgery and will also skip the meet.
But Dathan Ritzenhein, who was second to Hall at the Olympic Trials
Marathon and third at last year's cross country championships, will be
in the field, and should give Hall his toughest challenge. Other top
competitors in the race include Dan Browne, Andrew Carlson, James
Carney, Anthony Famiglietti, Jason Lehmkuhle, Edward Moran, and Jorge
Torres. The meet serves as the USA selection race for the IAAF World
Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 30.
Hall
will race sparingly this year, and does not have any competitions
scheduled after London and before the Olympic Games Marathon on August
24. Should he earn a spot on the U.S. team for the IAAF World Cross
Country Championships, he said today that he wouldn't accept it,
worried about the potential impact on his marathon in London and other
factors.
"I'd love to but I don't think I would," he said of the World Cross Country Championships.
As
for London, where Hall stunned observers last year by taking the lead
late in the race before finishing seventh, he's looking forward to his
return, and possibly a fast time.
"Sometimes you can put limits
on yourself," said Hall, adding that he planned to "stick his nose" in
the race. "I'm not exactly sure what is possible."
