Ritzenhein's NXN win earns her USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Overtaking the pre-race favorite in the final mile to win the girls' title at the NXN Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon, Addy Ritzenhein (Niwot, Colorado/USATF Colorado) earned recognition as the 44th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2023.

Ritzenhein, a sophomore at Niwot High School, and more than 200 other women battled classic cross country conditions on the Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, including messy mud and a giant puddle that the runners had to navigate twice. Texan Elizabeth Leachman, the favorite who led the field through the first four kilometers, yielded to Ritzenhein as they went through the final mile and the Coloradoan powered up the last hill to cross the finish line in 17:10.4 and win by six seconds.

Cheered on by her dad, three-time Olympian, former American record-holder in the 5000, and two-time Foot Locker national cross country champion Dathan Ritzenhein, the younger Ritzenhein captured her first major national title after winning the Colorado high school 3200 gold in the spring. She was the state 4A cross country champion in October and was third at the NXR Nike Southwest Regional meet to earn her spot at the nationals.
 
Other top performances from last week:

• Utah high schooler JoJo Jourdon won the boys' individual title at the NXN Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, covering the 5K distance in 15:16.5 to win by two seconds.
• Graham Blanks of Harvard ran the fastest ever 5000 by a collegian at the Colyear-Danville Opener in Boston, clocking 13:03.78 to knock almost five seconds off the collegiate indoor record and more than two seconds off the fastest outdoor time.
• Parker Valby of Florida chopped more than 16 seconds off the collegiate indoor record in the women's 5000 at Boston, becoming the first collegian to go under 15:00 with her 14:56.11. She also became the No. 7 all-time U.S. indoor performer and bettered the fastest collegiate outdoor time by more than five seconds.
• CJ Albertson won the California International Marathon men's title in Sacramento by almost two minutes in 2:11:09.
• Mya Lesnar of Colorado State moved to No. 9 on the all-time U.S. women's collegiate indoor shot put performer list with an 18.50/60-8.5 at Golden, Colorado.

Now in its 22nd year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2023 Winners: January 17, Emily Sisson; January 24, Ednah Kurgat; January 31, Woody Kincaid; February 7, Grant Holloway; February 14, Yared Nuguse; February 21, Anna Hall; February 28, Talitha Diggs; March 7, Alicia Monson; March 14, Jasmine Moore; March 21, Keyzelle Thomas; March 28, Camille Herron; April 4, Hillary Bor; April 11, Valarie Allman; April 18, Britton Wilson; April 25, Brooke Andersen; May 2, Gabby Thomas; May 9, Connor Burns; May 16, Britton Wilson; May 23, Brooke Andersen; May 30, Ryan Crouser; June 6, KC Lightfoot; June 13, Grayson Murphy; June 20, Yared Nuguse; July 17, Gabby Thomas & Christian Miller; July 20, Ednah Kurgat; July 27, Nikki Hiltz; August 3, Quenton Lanese; August 10, Shawnti Jackson; August 17, Michelle Atherley; August 30, Ryan Crouser, Noah Lyles, Sha'Carri Richardson & Laulauga Tausaga-Collins; September 6, Yared Nuguse; September 13, Jenny Hitchings; September 20, Yared Nuguse; September 27, Weini Kelati; October 3, Hobbs Kessler; October 10, Conner Mantz; October 17, Parker Valby; October 24, Biya Simbassa; October 31, Parker Valby; November 7, Isai Rodriguez; November 14, Katelyn Tuohy; November 21, Graham Blanks; November 28, Morgan Beadlescomb; December 5, Addy Ritzenhein.

We welcome your nominations!

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org.

Join the conversation with USATF on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #USATF.
 
Photo Credit: Logan Hannigan-Downs