Olympic Marathon Trials Get Runners Pumped Up
The US Olympic Trials for Men's Marathon to be held in New York on Saturday, the third of November 2007, is geared to be one of the biggest American running events of the year. With one hundred thirty-four male runners out of the one hundred and seventy-nine qualifying athletes for the event, the race that will determine the three American marathoner representatives to be sent to Beijing, China in 2008 is promising to be one of the most exciting track events of the season.
The confirmed participants of the US Olympic Trials for Men's Marathon range from Olympic medalists to newcomers, and each and every one of them is determined to win one of the top three spots of the race, the spots that will designate them as part of the 2008 American Olympic Team. One of these hopefuls is twenty-four year old Dathan Ritzenhein. Ritzenhein, who was one of the star runners of the University of Colorado, had recently moved from one track capital to another after living in Boulder, Colorado for six years, the athlete and his family had moved to Eugene, Oregon. The move was supposed to help him with his training for the Trials on Saturday both he and his coach (former Oregon All American Brad Hudson) agreed that Boulder's elevation and firm tracks may have been causing much Ritzenhein's injuries. Without those injuries to recover from and worry about, Ritzenhein is better able to keep his eyes on the prize. There's going to be some really good people walking away in tenth place, the athlete said in an interview. I'm going to plan not to be one of them.
Promising newcomer Abdi Abdirahman is definitely not being a slouch either. The runner had only finished three marathons, all of them in the recent past, and already many eyes and bets are trained on him. The thirty year old athlete, who didn't even begin running competitively until he stepped into college, said that he didn't even think he was a marathoner at first. I thought I was a miler, 5000 (meter) runner, he shared. Now, Abdirahman is running his way to one of the top three spots in order have a third shot at the Olympics Team (he placed tenth in the 10,000 in 2000 and fifteenth in 2004). He is nevertheless not arrogant about his achievements, which pushes him to work harder. I think I'm confident, Abdirahman says. At the same time, it's a marathon. I'm aware anything can happen.
Veteran Olympic marathoner Meb Keflezighi, who had won the silver medal for the Olympic marathon in 2004, is likewise pushing himself to get one of the top three spots at the US Olympic Trials for the Men's Marathon; this time around, he wants to snatch an Olympic gold medal for both the country and himself. While Keflezighi is listed as one of the favorites to win, the runner has quite a few things to contend with, such as foot and leg injuries (which supposedly impeded his performance at the San Jose half-marathon; he finished thirteenth), as well as a slew of talented and hard-working competition. At a news conference, the athlete affirms that You can't count anyone out. Someone could have the day of their life.
The race on Saturday will begin at approximately half past seven and will be broadcast by NBC.
