Dathan Ritzenhein Breaks U.S. 5000 Meter Record

by candice.tsuei | August 28, 2009 at 03:37 pm

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Dathan Ritzenhein breaks the American men's 5,000 meters today at the Weltklasse Golden League Meet in Zurich, Switzerland, lowering the record by nearly two full seconds to 12:56.27, and also representing a 20-second improvement on his personal best.

27-year-old Ritzenheim, former NCAA cross-country champion at Colorado and 2008 Olympic marathoner, is the third American running under 13 minutes in the 5000 meter race. His time today broke the 13-year-old 12:58.21 record by Bob Kennedy, making him the second-fastest non-African in history.

Bekele led all competitors from start to finish, following two paid pace setters for the first 3000 meters, before setting out after a possible attack on his own world record.

Ritzenhein placed third in the race, behind Ethiopian world champion Kenenisa Bekele (12:52.32) and Kenyan Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (12.55.03).

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