Ritz to Run 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

“I am extremely excited to return to the Midwest to run the 2012 Bank of
America Chicago Marathon,” said Ritzenhein. “Growing up just across
Lake Michigan, everyone in western Michigan set their sights on fast
times at Chicago and hopefully I can do the same. Coming off a healthy
year of great training, I plan to carry the momentum from the Olympic
Games and the track season to a great race on October 7. I feel stronger
than ever and I can’t wait test myself on the streets of Chicago.”

Last Friday, he punched his ticket to his third Olympics with a third
place finish in the 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field
Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Previously, he qualified for the 10,000 meters
at the 2004 Athens Games and the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Games,
where he was the top American finisher in ninth place.

The 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be Ritzenhein’s first
marathon since placing fourth at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in
January in a personal best 2:09:55, leaving him one spot shy of making
the U.S. squad. His return to the track and focus on the Olympic 10,000
meters will serve him well on Chicago’s flat and fast course.

“The Bank of America Chicago Marathon was built for a guy like Dathan,”
said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. “It’s a track-like course
and he runs with great rhythm and speed. What’s even more exciting is
that he’s a hugely successful athlete who grew up just a short drive
from Chicago in Michigan. He’ll have a lot of supporters lining the
course cheering for him on race day, especially with so many of our
participants hailing from the Midwest.”

After a high school career that included numerous state and national
titles, Ritzenhein burst onto the world scene by winning a bronze medal
at the 2001 IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships, becoming only
the second American to do so. Success continued in college at the
University of Colorado, winning the 2003 NCAA Cross Country title.
Currently based in Portland, Ore., and coached by Alberto Salazar, he
had his best year as a professional in 2009, when he placed sixth in the
10,000 meters at the IAAF World Track & Field Championships in a
personal best 27:22.28, set a then-American record of 12:56.27 in the
5,000 meters, and captured the bronze medal at the IAAF World Half
Marathon Championships in a personal best 1:00:00.