Can Ritzenhein hold 3K - 5K - 10K - Marathon American Records by Fall?

POSSIBLY is clueless? Hey genius, what did Ritz run in the 2 mile in 2007? 8:11? He also ran 7:39 that same year. He's certainly become faster since, right? What makes you think he can't break 7:35? Probably the fact that you're a moron... clueless. Also, looks as though Justin Gatlin's going to break the 100m world record... I mean he's "motivated." Why not?

Someone just call out a highschool kid, and harp about him everyday until he does something amazing and reap the benefits of your stubbornness.

jacxoni wrote:

It does not matter that Ritz is motivated; Teg is much more talented. Have you seen Ritz beat Teg, head to head, over the last 3-4 years. The answer is no, and that is because at the shorter distance he cannot!!! They are more than likely very even at the 10k distance and that big race will be here in the next few years!!!! The sub 27 10k for the U.S. will be a possibility.

Teg is more talented? 12:58 to 12:56? Don't see it there. 5th at world junior XC to 3rd? Not there either. Footlocker national champ? Oh wait, he got beat by an underclassman... who was RITZ. Don't see it yet. All I see is Teg beating Ritz when Ritz was clearly not running up to his potential. Ritz could run a 3:56 mile just like Teg if he wanted to. I bet Ritz could run close to 8:07 for the two mile as well.

I have a question for you, how many times has Teg won a medal at a world championship? Teg has a 2 mile American Record, which is a decent record, but nobody cares.

As far as I'm concerned, Ritz is much more talented than any other runner besides (MAYBE) Alan Webb.

3k AR? No.

5k AR? Yes, a possibility.

10k AR? Yes, definitely a possibility.

Marathon AR? No, not enough time to fit in all of that training. I don't see Ritzenhein going from 2:10 to 2:05 in that short of time. I'm not saying I don't think he's capable of getting to sub-2:06, but I don't think it would be in the fall of 2010. 2012? Yes, definitely a possibility in London, Rotterdam, etc, or Chicago on a nice day(no wind).

You mean to say that Ritzenhein is more talented than any other American runner, right? Except I would question if he is more talented than Meb(27:13.9)? Meb did win NYC Marathon and got the bronze at the 2000 summer olympics in the marathon in Athens. I wouldn't be surprised if Ritz is the more talented individual though. It's hard to compete against 12:56 and a 60:00 HM.

The reason Ritzenhein never beats Tegenkamp in races is because they're usually only in the same races for qualifying meets, like USA Champs or something like that, so it's a slower, more tactical race, which isn't the best measure of an athlete's overall talent. Usually it's just a measure of how good their kick is, and Tegenkamp has had a better kick than Ritzenhein the past few years primarily due to coaching. Give Ritzenhein some more time with Al Sal or even the same coach as Tegenkamp, Jerry Schumacher, and I imagine Ritzenhein could be pushing Tegenkamp. Especially since Ritzenhein probably has a lot more strength built into his system from training for the marathon. Strength ----> speed. Ask Clyde Hart, it's a fact.

possibly wrote:

27:10 in the spring; 7:29 in the summer; 2:05 in the fall ??

have not read all the posts here but here's my thoughts:

3K should be all Alan Webb this year if he wants it (meaning races it). He's the only one who could crack 7:30 and I think then it's Rupp/Lagat/Teg/Ritz/Solinsky/Jager following pretty much in that order unless Rupp doesn't get into a fast one in Europe because Lagat will likely be in several. Fernandez could break into that group if he were to race one, but likely won't have the opportunity.

5K I see Rupp coming out on top here (again if he gets into the races like the others will) but add Ritz, Webb, Lagat & Teg and that is 5 Americans that could be under 13:00 and 4 of them are born and bread white boys in one year. without checking that is as many or more white boys that (not including teg & ritz's past marks) have ever broken 13.

10K Ritz and Rupp should both smash the AR and be looking at the 26:50 barrier.

someone please dig this up at summers end.

irun wrote:

You mean to say that Ritzenhein is more talented than any other American runner, right? Except I would question if he is more talented than Meb(27:13.9)? Meb did win NYC Marathon and got the bronze at the 2000 summer olympics in the marathon in Athens. I wouldn't be surprised if Ritz is the more talented individual though. It's hard to compete against 12:56 and a 60:00 HM.

I understand what you're saying. Meb might be more talented, or he just has more years of base. Who knows how good Ritz will be when he's Meb's age.

Personally, I think Rupp is overrated. His indoor 5k last year was incredible, but I don't believe he's better than Ritz at the 5k or 10k. He's probably top 5 in the 5k, however, and top three in the 10k (Abdi has the fastest PR, and has run it recently). Oh, and Rupp DEFINITELY will not get the 3k record...at least not over Lagat.

I'm surprised that there has been no mention of Abdi on this thread. He's run 27:17!

go pre...... wrote:

the last person to hold all of the AR from 3k to 10k was Steve Prefontaine, in 1975. That would be some feat if Ritz could pull it off and show some range! Good luck to him!

And good luck on ending up with zero international medals over his career just like Pre!

"I have a question for you, how many times has Teg won a medal at a world championship? Teg has a 2 mile American Record, which is a decent record, but nobody cares."

For you Ritz jock sniffers out there: he had a great season to bring his career back from some embarassing performances in recent years. Maybe he can stay healthy, but yet to be seen in recent history. Teg has put together much consistency over the last 5-6 years. His 4th at 2007 WC is better than anything that Ritz has ever done. His 8:07 to Ritz 8:11 in the same race is an indicator of their "speed" in races shorter than 5k. Ritz has not approached Teg's lower range (1500, mile) and you all can keep pushing Webb, Ritz and others, but until they put some races together in successive years on the track, I won't get too excited.

Torpid wrote:

go pre...... wrote:

the last person to hold all of the AR from 3k to 10k was Steve Prefontaine, in 1975. That would be some feat if Ritz could pull it off and show some range! Good luck to him!

And good luck on ending up with zero international medals over his career just like Pre!

I would love to see Ritz get "on the podium" at world cross. That would be more significant than any other international medal in my book, since we have not had even a top ten finish there in many, many years.

I believe it was one Robert Johnson, co-founder of this site, who first penned an article about Ritz being the first American to have a legitimate shot at a sub-27:00 in the 10k, and I don't think many disagreed, though I sincerely doubt that any hypothetical was made with regard to the 3k and 5k ARs (though it may have been). Somebody should tee up that old article, which was once front page fodder.

Insects by any other name wrote:

Wait a minute. If Lowell is your brother isn't his mom also your mom?

Yuck!

Well, you got me there. Obviously I was using the term "brother" not in a literal way.

My prediction: (heard it hear first) Ritz will not own any American distance records by 2012!!!!!