2004 Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein grabbed the lead early in the race and held on for the win Sunday at the 2004 Reebok Cross Country Challenge in Belfast, Ireland.
After sharing the lead with Great Britain’s Gavin Thompson during the opening circuit, Ritzenhein opened up a sizeable lead on the second of five laps, claiming after the race that the pace was too slow.
With three 1,800m laps remaining, Ritzenhein faced the daunting task of facing a group of Kenyans working together to reel him in. During the third lap Ritzenhein increased his lead to 16 seconds, and at the beginning of the final circuit his lead was 18 seconds. With many in the crowd chanting “USA, USA” as he went by, Ritzenhein roared to the finish 10 seconds ahead of his nearest competitors, Kenyans Ernest Meil and Barnabas Kosgei.
The 2003 NCAA cross country champion and 2001 World Cross Country Championships junior bronze medalist, Ritzenhein is experienced in running cross country, and he had no fear going up against the favored Kenyans. “I’ve raced against them before and each time I’ve finished higher and higher,” he said.
Ritzenhein will open his U.S. indoor season January 29 in the 3,000 meters at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Boston.