Flanagan, Ritzenhein Dominate at USA Cross Country Championships in San Diego
Fernandez, Hasay Junior champions; Wade, Hawkins Masters champions

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By Jim Estes, USATF
Posted Monday, 18 February, 2008

SAN DIEGO - (February 16, 2008) - 2004 Olympic team members Shalane Flanagan (Pittsboro, N.C) and Dathan Ritzenhein (Eugene, Ore.) each scored convincing victories at the USA Cross Country Championships at Mission Bay Park in San Diego on Saturday.

Flanagan, fresh off a stint of altitude training in Mexico, cruised to a 70-second victory over runner-up Renee Metivier (Boulder, Colo.) over the eight-kilometer distance, running 25 minutes, 26 seconds under picture perfect conditions, with temperatures in the mid-60s.

Flanagan, 26, took matters into her own hands early, daring any of the runners in the field to go with her.

Following Metivier and earning spots on Team USA for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland were Emily Brown (Minneapolis, Minn.), who ran 26:37, followed a second later by teammate Katie McGregor (St. Louis Park, Minn.).

"I think that training at altitude agrees with me. I'm excited to start the season with a win. This course played to my strength. I was within myself, but I stayed aggressive the entire race. I needed to practice that mental toughness for Beijing today. The thought of Beijing is constantly on my mind," said Flanagan.

Recent Notre Dame graduate Molly Huddle (Elmira, N.Y.) finished fifth in 26:52, while world cross country team veteran Blake Russell (Marina, Calif.) nabbed the final team position, running 26:54.

In the men's twelve-kilometer race, Ritzenhein, Jorge Torres (Boulder, Colo.) and U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon champion Ryan Hall (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) pulled away from the chase pack early and ran together. As the trio entered lap three, Ritzenhein, 25, asserted himself over the duo, and opened up a thirteen-second lead over Torres at the end of that lap.

By the end of lap three, Torres had a twelve-second lead over Hall, with Josh Rohatinsky (Beaverton, Ore.) closing on the duo.

Ritzenhein, the runner-up to Hall at last November's Olympic Marathon Trials, eventually opened up a 26-second gap over Torres, crossing the line in 35:03, with his former University of Colorado teammate finishing in 35:29.

Rohatinsky finished in third, running 35:41, with Ed Moran (Williamsburg, Va.) fourth in 35:43. Hall faded to fifth, 7 seconds back of Moran.

James Carney (Boulder, Colo.) finished sixth in 35:56, while the Oregon Track Club Elite duo of Max King and Ryan Bak (Eugene, Ore.) finished seventh and eighth, in 35:57, and 35:59. Jorge's twin brother Edwardo Torres (Boulder, Colo.) earned the final men's position, running 36:01.

"I really didn't expect to pull away by this much today. When I noticed a bit of a hesitation from the field, I decided to go ahead and go. This field was incredible, with a lot of guys who have been national champions, All-Americans, and Olympians," Ritzenhein recounted.

California prep stars ruled the day in the two Junior races, as defending champion Jordan Hasay (Arroyo Grande, Calif.) and German Fernandez (Riverbank, Calif.) held off collegiate competitors Alexandra Gits (Edina, Minn.) from Stanford University and Ryan Sheridan (Melville, N.Y.) from Iona.

Hasay was pressed for most of the race by Gits, before opening up a lead on the final lap to win her second straight USA Junior cross country title, running 20:32 for the six-kilometer distance. Gits finished in the runner-up position, running 20:45.

Georgia high schooler Emily Reese (Dunwoody, Georgia) placed third, in 21:26, followed by a trio of college freshmen, led by Notre Dame's Marissa Treece (South Bend, Ind.) in fourth, running 21:33, followed by Duke University's Emily Schwitzer (Durham, N.C.) in 21:34, and the University of Washington's Lauren Saylor (Clovis, Calif.) garnering the final Junior team position, running 21:36 for sixth.

Fernandez, the third place finisher in last fall's Foot Locker National Championships, used a strong finishing kick over the last 400 meters to hold off the challenge of Iona College freshman Ryan Sheridan in the Junior men's eight kilometer contest, running 24:18, with Sheridan second in 24:19.

University of Virginia freshman Emil Heineking (Chardon, Ohio) finished third in 24:34. Bobby Moldovan (Fort Wayne, Ind.) was fourth in 24:38, while Kevin Williams (Lakewood, Colo.) finished fifth in 24:39. Benjamin Johnson of Albuquerque garnered the final spot, crossing the line in 24:41.

Sean Wade (Houston, Texas) dominated the Masters men's eight-kilometer race, crossing the line in 25:15. In the women's 40 and over race, Jody Hawkins (Frisco, Texas) emerged victorious, running 29:06. Pete Magill (South Pasadena, Calif.) and Kathryn Martin (Northport, N.Y.), the USATF masters runners of the year, won the age-graded titles.

The 2008 USA Cross Country Championships will be televised in association with the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Sunday, February 24 from 5:00-7:00pm on ESPN2.

USA Cross Country Championships
World Championship Team Qualifier - Edinburgh, Scotland
San Diego, CA, Saturday, February 16, 2008

MEN - 12K
1) Dathan Ritzenhein (OR), 35:03, $1200
2) Jorge Torres (CO), 35:29, $800
3) Josh Rohatinsky (OR), 35:41, $500
4) Ed Moran (VA), 35:43, $400
5) Ryan Hall (CA), 35:50, $300
6) James Carney (CO), 35:56, $200
7) Max King (OR), 35:57
8) Ryan Bak (OR), 35:59
9) Edwardo Torres (CO), 36:01
10) Scott Bauhs (CA), 36:16

WOMEN - 8K
1) Shalane Flanagan (NC), 25:26, $1200
2) Renee Metivier (CO), 26:36, $800
3) Emily Brown (MN), 26:37, $500
4) Katie McGregor (MN), 26:38, $400
5) Molly Huddle (NY), 26:52, $300
6) Blake Russell (CA), 26:54, $200
7) Katherine Newberry (VA), 27:07
8) Amy Hastings (AZ), 27:12
9) Julia Lucas (CA), 27:13
10) Sara Slattery (CA), 27:19

In addition, a total of $12,000 in stipends for Team USA members will be awarded based on the rank order of finish at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

Deeper results at: USATF.org/events/2008/USAXCChampionships

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