RITZENHEIN RUNS SECOND FASTEST 5,000 IN SCHOOL HISTORY

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark - The University of Colorado track & field team took to the track today in Fayetteville, Ark at the first day of the 2004 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Arkansas. Three Buffaloes were in action in the men's and women's & 5,000 meter run.

CU sophomore Dathan Ritzenhein took fourth in the men’s 5K run in a time of 13:42.09. It was a close race, as the top four finishers were separated by less than three seconds. The winner, Alistair Cragg, came in at 13:39.63, running on his home track for the last time. Ian Dobson of Stanford was the runner up at 13:40.91, followed by Richard Kiplagat of Ionain 13:41.67. Ritzenhein was the top American finisher, and improved on his season best time of 13:55.50, a personal best and the second fastest time in CU history behind only Adam Goucher’s mark of 13:38.23.

"We expected the men's race to be tentative," said head coach Mark Wetmore. "Dathan and I agreed he would get going if he felt well. He was leading the whole way, but Cragg went ahead about 10 or 15 meters. It was pretty obvious the guys behind Cragg were just racing for second, but a lot of guys came back quickly and finished within one second of each other. Dathan doesn’t like to get fourth place, so he was upset. It was a very good time considering how slow he went out. It was a good step forward for him and prepares him for the outdoor season."

In the women’s 5,000 meters, Buffaloes Christine Bolf and Kalin Toedebusch, competing for the first time as individual at an NCAA meet, took 13th and 16th, respectively. Bolf ran a time of 16:26.83, with Toedebusch coming in at 16:28.95.

"This was a peculiar race due to the leader taking the race out at sub-olympic qualifying pace," said Wetmore. "It changed everything for everybody. It was a race of attrition. They finished higher than their ranking. It was not a day for fast times and not a day for our kind of tactics. I am proud of them, they are both young and have a couple more years."

Tomorrow two more Buffs will be in action as Renee Metivier and Bret Schoolmeester hit the track. Metivier will run in the women’s 3,000 meter run, with Schoolmeester in the men’s 3,000 meter run. It will be the first indoor NCAA individual appearances for both.

NCAA Indoor Championships

Results

Colorado Athletes Only

Men

5,000 Meter Run

4. Dathan Ritzenhein, 13:42.09

Women

5,000 Meter Run

13. Christine Bolf, 16:26.83

16. Kalin Toedebusch, 16:28.95