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Flotrack's Best of 2009
Flotrack's Best of 2009

Breakthrough of the Year - Best of 2009

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Uploaded by Ryan From Flotrack | December 28, 2009

If you were like me and grew up Ritz fan since our high school days, it was hard to think that you wouldn't see Ritz kick ass on the track anymore. With his switch to the marathon it was hard to find Ritz running on the oval. But this spring many people got what that had been waiting for....a revived Ritz! Dathan appeared at the US Champs and battled with Galen and Tim Nelson to show us he still had the pop. At the World Championships he surprised some by being the top American finisher and placing 6th in the World! But that wasn't the end of it. After the World Champs he made one last stop on the track in Zurich. Sitting in the back of the pack for a majority of the race, it looked like many American performances we've seen in the past with someone just "hanging on" to a blistering pace. However this time it was different, not only was Ritz running a great time, he was also blasting through the field over the last thousand meters!! As he moved into second and crept closer and closer to Bekele, I remember not believing what I was seeing. Dathan Ritzenhein made a statement to many that said we are not just here to run, but to compete! He set an impressive American Record at 12:56 and went on to finish 3rd at the World Half Marathon Championships (set another PR of 1:00:00). Breakthrough of the year may be an understatement but either way, Dathan is back!

Speakers: Dathan Ritzenhein
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Comments21 comments

 2 years ago

The next year will show it all. Ritz is supposely hurt.

2 years ago

The marathon training is what gave him the strength to do this. Without it he would still be a 13 something 5ker.

2 years ago

should be interesting how fast he can run under the new system of training? 12:30?

Track Runner 2 years ago

If he switched to a full time track runner he could break the 5k world record with more speed training rather than marathon training

2 years ago

Ritz is hurt and has been for 3months.

2 years ago

World cross for the win!

2 years ago

Aw Tim Tebow is my hero!

Michael Forman 2 years ago

I love this race, I had tears in my eyes watching it.

I also have the the longer version on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKMZfYn6e80
My favorite quotes are: "Running in last is Dathan Ritzenhein of the United States....and Ritzenhein towards the back of the field beginning to lose contact".
And this quote, "Well there's a charge going on from Dathan Ritzenhein fo the USA. He's back in fourth place, but he's covering the ground quicker than any runner in the field".
And, "Ritzenhein is closing on Bekele"
Oh and this quote, "This proves that? North Americans can stick it to the East Africans...he cannot believe it (Ritz), he's almost in tears with that run".
Dathan Ritzenhein, you are my hero and have been since 2000. I am so happy to see you running at this level.

2 years ago

You Don't know Tim Tebow?? just kidding, Matt Tebo, Colorado.

??? 2 years ago

Who is Tebo?

Boulder Flash 2 years ago

Man, Another Buff! Ritz, Jenny, McLaughlin, Tebo, Van Halen, A. Ryan, even way back to Mary Decker! Is there no end to the talent?

doggpound 2 years ago

hhahahahahaha

Tommie Poston 2 years ago

Now to break 27 minutes in the 10k.

Jason Pedersen 2 years ago

So great. After he ran this race, my teammates and I were so excited for him and American distance running. One of my teammates said, "I feel like I just ran a PR."

Incredible performance + great commentating = nearly brought me to tears (and I've seen this video like three times)

Ehh... 2 years ago

yeah i agree with mrs. doubtfire in terms of jenny b. But i think her xc nationals race could've easily been the jaw dropper of the year (my jaw certainly dropped). But then i can also understand why it wouldn't be because that race is probably not something she'd want to have dug up again.

Joshua Lange 2 years ago

dammm thats crazy concrats

2 years ago

amazing, just purely amazing..I think he's got more in him too

sweet 2 years ago

I was just thinking about watching this race

MikeyB 2 years ago

for me: sweetest race of the year!

Cara Hawkins 2 years ago

Ritz has had a great year! I remember watching this and screaming at the TV. It was a crazy awesome race.

Mrs. Doubtfire 2 years ago

You know I am a fan but I do have an observation; Why are most of the "of the years" MEN? I think Jenny B could have been jaw droper-PRE or even breakthru. Maybe you should have male and female superlatives. Just a thought.