Dathan Ritzenhein, CU Olympian - University of Colorado Athletics

Dathan Ritzenhein, Cross Country/Track & Field

Three-Time Olympian (2004, '08, '12)
2003 NCAA Cross Country Champion
Four-Time Big 12 Conference Champion
Four-time All-American
CU 10,000-meter Record Holder (27:38.50)
Former 5K American Record Holder (12:56.27)

Dathan Ritzenhein is a three-time Olympian, competing twice in the 10,000-meters and once in the marathon. His highest finish at the Olympics was ninth in the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Games. During the course of his career, he has won three U.S. Cross Country Championships (2005, '08 and '10). Ritzenhein also was the runner-up in the menGÇÖs marathon in 2008 and was third in the 10K in 2012. In 2009 he set the U.S. 5K record at 12:56.27, although it was later broken. Ritzenhein raced two years at CU before turning pro during the summer of 2004. In that time he won the 2003 NCAA Cross Country Championship and was the 2004 NCAA 5,000-meter runner-up. During the course of RitzenheinGÇÖs short collegiate career he racked up four All-American honors (two in cross country in 2001 and 2003 and two on the track in the indoor and outdoor 5K in 2004). Ritzenhein is the CU 10K record holder (27:38.50), his debut in the event, and ranks third on CUGÇÖs 5K performers list (13:27.77). He is married to former CU All-American Kalin Toedebusch. The couple has two children.