Dathan Ritzenhein crosses the finish line
at the 2008 Olympic Marathon.
Courtesy: Associated Press |
BEIJING ? Former University of Colorado standout Dathan Ritzenhein earned a ninth place finish in the men’s marathon at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad on Saturday.
Ritzenhein finished the 26.2 mile race in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 59 seconds. He was the highest American in the race; crossing the finish 34 seconds ahead of U.S. teammate Ryan Hall, who took 10th. The third member of the U.S. team, Brian Sell, was 22nd (2:16:07).
Kenya’s Samuel Kamau Wanjiru led for the majority of the race and crossed the finish in Olympic record time, 2:06:32. Jaouad Gharib (Morocco) took silver, running just 44 seconds off Wanjiru’s pace. Ethiopia earned the bronze with Tsegay Kebede finishing in 2:10:00.
Ritzenhein was 13th at the 20k mark and had a time of 1:00:30. He moved up to 10th at the 30k (1:31.47) and was ninth by the 40k (2:04:50).
This was the final event for the University of Colorado at the 2008n Olympic Games. Ritzenhein tied Jenny Barringer and Kara Goucher for the highest finish by a Buff at the Olympic Games. Barringer finished ninth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Goucher was ninth in the 5,000-meter run.
GAMES OF THE XXIX OLYMPIAD (2008 OLYMPIC GAMES)
BEIJING, CHINA
Beijing National Stadium
Track Events
Men’s Marathan
9. Dathan Ritzenhein, 2:11:59
- Colorado -
