Dathan Ritzenhien 6th 10k 2009 Berlin IAAF World Champs

omg what the ?? DATHAN JUST RAN 12:56, FOR A MOMENT I THOUGHT HE COULD CATCH BEKELE

second fastest non-african in history (behind mottram) and new american record!!

He mentions a blog....where can I find that?

that group in Portland is going to be SICK! just SICK!!!

Huge for Dathan. He is moving toward 27 for a 10k, he has alot to be proud of today. He is a very talented runner and americans dont really hit prme until early 30's,so the future looks bright.

"I remember running 63s 64s and maybe even a 62, I could feel it"

F!#king awesome:D congrats Ritz!!!

Ritz !!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad to see that you're back.
As I've said many times before and wil continue to say, you cannot count out talent like this.
I said this about Alan Webb when he struggled out of colelge and I still maintain this with Alan.
I also said this with Ryan Hall and look at what we got now.
A 27:22 10k runenr who finishes 6th at worlds
A 3:46 miler who will (mark my words when I say will) be in championship form soon.
And a 2:06:17 marathoner who finished 3rd at Boston and became the first American ever to run under 60:00 in the half-marathon.

What a great interview. What an enormous achievement.

just think!, he struggled to run 27:58 a few months ago.

Ritz is back

Richard, dude, might be that you are such an elite runner, but I have been looking and I can´t find your name nowhere...might be because you are a nobody? Pathetic is, the haters like you that think know all, but don´t know jack...feel happy and proud that there is a good bunch of distance runners that are going to make us very proud in the future. Go stick you head in a sand bucket dude!

I'm confused by several of his comments yet he ran a good race, none the less. I'm confused why he continually knocks down his past when regardless of performance, it has so much bearing on his present and future. It's as if he feels like nothing before today was worth the time and energy he put forth, yet comments continually refer to his ability to understand the mental side of a marathon and the toll it takes on his body. At times, its two different people talking. One running from all his trials and tribulations, and the other one reminding him how the time spent on that road means so much in the grander scheme. But the time will come when you have to evaluate a lot more than a 6th place finish in the World Champs.

rich, you're a clown. no runner, or even any athlete for that matter, would agree with you. your statement about "pathetic performances" shows that you really have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to the sport. how about YOU start working hard enough to win a medal in a distance event on the world stage, and in the meantime stay out of here.

seriously? U.S. taxes DO NOT pay for U.S. athletes...they do it all on their own...China is a different example.

6th place. Wow what an achievement. What I have seen so far from our distance runners are pretty pathetic performances on the world stage and it is getting worse. One female runner committed prior to Berlin, that she "just wanted to be competitive". Who pays for these vacations - US Taxpayer. This is another "Cash for Clunkers' program. Work hard = Winning Medals.

Awesome interview. Great to hear Dathan with his swagger. 6th in that field is out of this world. Outstanding.

nice hopefully u can get an AR

Nice job Ritz. In Beijing as well.

U of Cs got some awesome personalities.

Both Jenny B and Ritz have humble opinions 'bout everything.
Keep up the GREAT work RitZ!!

baby steps for U.S. distance. baby steps....

Ritz is starting to get the hang of things.
hope he can medal next time around.

What a run.. Legend of a performance also considering how hot it was last night. 13:32 last 5km - WOW!

Who will be the first American under 27 minutes for 10k ? I think Ritz & Rupp will push each other under 27 minutes within a year. Alan Webb will regain his sub-3:50 mile form and could be the second American to break 13 minutes for 5k (Bob Kennedy was the first and only American to do it)...Also Matt Tegankamp, Chris Solinsky, Evan Jager & German Fernandez all have sub 13-minute 5k potential..Will the U.S. get a Medal in a race over 800 meters in 2012 Olympics ? I like our chances

Way to go Dathan! Nice job on your pb and 6th place in the world!

Great race Dathan. I am super pumped to see you running well. You are definitely a sub 27 waiting to happen. I am so thrilled to see the direction of the US distance program. Good things are gonna happen. Great Job D and congrats on the 6th place finish. Your top 6 in the world!

Amazing, been a long time coming!! Stick with the track for a while, I think you're a sub 27 guy next year!

Shawn, I bet Alberto wasn't willing to take on Shalane. Kara and Amy have a good dynamic going. Shalane is great she seems to have a different personality. I don't see her fitting in with Kara and Amy. Kara and Amy are bubbly girls and Shalane is a little more rigid (observation only). Also especially with many of the women they need to be their coaches #1. Kara is already that and shalane needs to be with someone where she is that coach's #1 female. Training wise Shalane probably shouldn't have left Cook but you have to be happy with your coaching relationship. So she moved and in time she'll be a medal contender with Jerry. Don't be a summer soilder.

Great performance considering what he was up against. Good interview, but too much use of the word "spunk." Eww.

great race&interview;!

Shalane! are you listening. He swiched to Alberto!!

Dathan you did awesome. It's great that you are healthy and running to the potential we all new you had. Once Bekele and the euritrian guy move on you are right in the mix with the world leaders for 10k. Way to go.

Great race.
Where's the Rupp video...or did he head to the medical tent?

Think the time is the 4th All time by an American.

You all say that and most people had already given up on him in both the marathon and track. He will break 27, in the right race and he will run 2:06, in the right race. So there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was awesome! I can't wait to see what he does next..

I guess Ritz is not finish making some noise on the track!

27:22! Awesome time considering the weather!...best run for American in a long time!

Yeah man! I hope this means you will stick with track a little longer before returning to the marathon full time. With the talent Ritz has I wouldnt put a limit on what he could run in the 5k/10k