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NEW YORK (20-Feb) -- Alan Webb, who hasn't competed since winning the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile last September, will need to be extra sharp for his season opener on March 15, when he'll face a legion tough competitors at the Central Park Challenge, the New York Road Runners event which is hosting the U.S. Men's 8-K Championship.
It will be Webb's old high school rival, Dathan Ritzenhein of Eugene, Ore., who will be leading the charge. Fresh off of his commanding 12-K victory at the U.S. Cross Country Championships last Saturday, "Ritz" is hoping to improve on his lifetime record of 5-2 over Webb. The athletes first faced each other at the Foot Locker National High School Cross Country Championships in Orlando, Fla., in December, 2001 (Ritzenhein won and Webb was 8th), and their last meeting was at last year's Prefontaine Classic over two miles (Ritzenhein was 4th in 8:11.74, Webb 9th in 8:23.97).
"Alan and I seem to have been attached at the hip since high school," Ritzenhein said through a media release. "Every time we race it seems to be an exciting competition, and hopefully it will be another one at the USA 8-K Championship."
Webb, 25, of Reston, Va., has surprising endurance for a miler, as evidenced by his world class times of 13:10.86 for 5000m and 27:34.72 for 10,000m. But the 8-K distance could play more towards the 25 year-old Ritzenhein's natural power curve. He's also in great shape.
"I was surprised at both how good I felt in the USA Cross Country Championships and at my fitness," added Ritzenhein. "I hope to carry that momentum into this race and the rest of the season."
Both Webb and Ritzenhein will be running their first-ever U.S. 8-K Championship.
"Stars since high school, Alan and Dathan are among the most exciting and accomplished runners the United States has ever seen," said Mary Wittenberg, the president and CEO of the New York Road Runners in a prepared statement. "They are both riding high heading into the Olympic year, and we are honored they have chosen the Central Park Challenge to make their 2008 New York City debuts."
But this is hardly a two-man race. Also looking to win in Central Park will be Abdi Abdirahman of Tucson Ariz., the reigning U.S. 10,000m and 10-K champion and two-time Olympian. He's been a fixture at the U.S. 8-K Championship since the NYRR began hosting the event in 2002. He's competed in the race five times, finishing second twice, and third and fourth, once. Jorge Torres of Boulder, Colo., will also be competing this year after finishing 7th last year, and winning the title in 2005. Both men have a very good chance of competing in the Beijing Olympics in the 10,000m.
The deep field also also includes a raft of U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials contenders, including U.S. half-marathon champion, James Carney; 2007 PAC 10 steeplechase champion, Aaron Aguayo; 2006 Manchester Road Race Champion, Ian Dobson; 2007 U.S. steephechase champion, Josh McAdams; 2007 Pan American Games 5000m gold medalist, Ed Moran; and 2000 Olympian, Bolota Asmerom.
About 50 athletes are expected to line up for the Central Park Challenge, which will follow an invitational 8-K for women and an open 8-K race. A $70,000 prize money purse will be on the line with $10,000 going to the winners of the Central Park Challenge and the invitational women's 8-K.
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