<<< The first two Americans are also of African origin - as were the top 18 in the Men's long course and the top 19 in the Jr. Men's. Dathan R was the 2nd non-African origin runner - and he's only 19. >>>
Last year before outdoor season got rolling, I stated that when you consider XC and track ability AND accomplishments that (I thought) only Lindgren and Virgin could rank ahead of Ritzenhein all-time as high-schoolers. Some people agreed (more or less), some people said 5 or 6 people had better HS accomplishments (Merrick, Pre, Chapa, Hulst, ... pick your regional/historical favorite), and some people cautioned that this 5'7" / 112 pounder wouldn't pan out in college. (In Dana Carvey's grumpy-old-man voice): They warned me, "I coached 'Joe Fastinthepast' and he ran 8:53y in 1973, but once his body matured he never got much faster, and he was somewhat of a flop. Don't count the eggs before they hatch." Or, "Injuries or burnout will more likely be what he contends with over the next five years, instead of the Africans. There is just too much that can happen." I didn't listen. For those who shared these feelings on the boy all of Michigan calls Lord Ritz, consider the last 370 days: WJCCC 2001: 3rd Outdoor '01: 8:44y , 13:51, 13:44 5ks NCAA XC '02: NCAA 4th, beating everyone all year excepting his teammate and two Africans (Boaz and Cragg). NCAA ind '02: 8:01 , 13:50. NCAA 3rd, again beating everyone but Torres and Cragg. WCCC 2002: 24th in first international senior race. I will be the first to say that I see him going sub-13:30 THIS season, and that he could go sub-28:10 (but he won't run the 10 this year). Actually, at 24th in the World, he would have a good shot at 13:22-23, but will be limited by the number and quality of races he gets into. He may never get either of the 12:58/27:13 AR's ... but we in Michigan like to say that Tiger Woods is the 'Dathan Ritzenhein of golf'. /Brian McEwen
