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DyeStat Michigan
6/10/00
Ritz tries 5K Oly qualifier
Breaks two MI state records en route
from Jeff Hollobaugh's MichTrack web site
Rockford junior Dathan Ritzenhein finished the 5000m in 14:13.80 at the Michigan International Saturday night in Canton.
The phenomenon had the crowd of 1,000 on its feet as he attempted to meet the Olympic Trials qualifying standard of 13:47.0. When his much older competitors slipped from the necessary pace, Ritzenhein took over at the halfway point.
He blasted through 3000m in a state record 8:18.5 (the old best belonged to Olympian Todd Williams), and passed 3200m in a mind-blowing 8:52.5.
Running alone, buffeted by the strong winds, he slipped from the pace in the final laps, but still smashed the state high school record by 21 seconds in running a time only 10 American preps have ever bettered.
