FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein to Test Olympic Fitness
at NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE
Americans James Carney, Fasil Bizuneh, Zoila Gómez,
Colleen De Reuck also entered
NEW YORK - (July 9, 2008) - U.S. Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein will return to
New York for the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE on Sunday, July 27, in
his final tune-up race for the Olympic Games marathon, it was announced by
New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.
Ritzenhein headlines a stellar group of Americans entered, including USA
Half-Marathon champion James Carney and rising distance star Fasil Bizuneh
on the men's side, and U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon fourth
place finisher Zoila Gómez and four-time Olympian Colleen De Reuck on the
women's side. Athletes will be vying for a prize purse of more than
$70,000, with the male and female winners each receiving $10,000.
"Dathan elevates every race he runs in," Wittenberg said. "As we continue
to build the stature of the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE, it's a
coup to add Dathan to what we expect to be a robust professional field. In
an Olympic year with a race that has an international field, it will be fun
for New Yorkers to cheer for the red, white and blue."
Ritzenhein, 25, of Eugene, OR, punched his ticket to Beijing with a
spectacular performance at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon in
Central Park, finishing in second place last November. He continued his
success into the 2008 Olympic year with an early-season victory at the USA
Cross Country Championships in February; however, injuries have slowed
Ritzenhein since then. Lingering soreness in his foot forced him to
withdraw from two New York races: the Central Park Challenge in March and
the Healthy Kidney 10K in May.
Ritzenhein, a two-time Olympian, was cleared to resume full training at the
beginning of June. As a part of his buildup to the Olympic marathon on
August 24, he competed in the 10,000 meter final at the U.S. Olympic Team
Trials - Track & Field on Friday in Eugene, finishing eighth.
"I am excited to return to the Big Apple for the New York City
Half-Marathon presented by NIKE," Ritzenhein said. "Each NYRR event I have
contested, whether cross county, road or the marathon, has provided
fantastic competition and thrilling races. The Half should serve as an
excellent final test, in terms of both the elite field and weather
conditions, before the Olympic Games marathon in Beijing."
Along with Ritzenhein, two top American men are coming off strong 10,000m
performances this past weekend in Eugene. Both Carney and Bizuneh
challenged for a spot on the Olympic team at various points in the race;
however, neither was able to crack the top three. Carney made a strong bid
for third in the race's second half, but eventually finished sixth. After
running near the lead through the first 5000 meters, Bizuneh finished 15th.
Carney, 30, of Boulder, CO, captured the USA Half-Marathon title in January
and was fourth in the Central Park Challenge in March. Bizuneh, 28, of
Flagstaff, AZ - still looking for a breakthrough victory - has notched
eight top-five finishes in USA Championship races in the last two years.
Also included in the field will be Fernando Cabada, 26, of Boulder, CO, who
set the U.S. record in the 25K in 2006.
On the women's side, Gómez, 29, of Alamosa, CO, set a personal best by more
than a minute and a half at the women's marathon trials in April, just
missing a spot on the Olympic team with her fourth place finish. In
addition to her professional running career, the Mexican-born Gómez spends
much of her time working with underserved kids in her community. De Reuck,
44, of Boulder, CO, was the 2004 Olympic Marathon Trials champion. An
injury kept the South African native, who became a U.S. citizen in 2000,
from competing in the 2008 marathon trials.
In its third year, the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE continues to
attract the world's leading professional athletes, in addition to a
sold-out field of more than 10,000 recreational runners from around the
world. More than 19,000 people applied to run in the race. On a course
designed to celebrate New York City, the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by
NIKE will take runners on a loop through Central Park, down Seventh Avenue
through Times Square, across 42nd Street, and along the expansive West Side
Highway to Battery Park in the heart of the city's financial district,
finishing with a view of the Statue of Liberty.
New York Road Runners is working in collaboration with the Mayor's Office,
City of New York Parks & Recreation, the New York City Sports Commission,
the New York City Police Department, the Department of Transportation, the
Department of Sanitation, the New York City Fire Department, and all the
other city agencies that help throughout the year to produce its
world-class events.
For more information, visit: NYRR.org
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