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Lead Stories: Wednesday, August 20, 2008

In Failure, Xiang’s Sad Story Exemplifies True Olympic Lesson

Posted August 18th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

The 95,000 fans who packed into Beijing’s Bird’s Nest and exploded with cheers when native son and 2004 gold medalist Liu Xiang was announced, groaned just as loudly only moments later when he withdrew from heat 6 of today’s 110 meter hurdles.

Xiang was limping and wincing in pain as he lined up for his first race after months of battling foot and hamstring injuries. Then, after a false start was called on the field, he came out of the blocks hobbling and proceeded to rip off his race number. As Xiang walked off the National Stadium track and into the tunnel, the reality of the nightmare scenario set-in: the national hero of the world’s most populated country would leave their own Olympic Games without a medal.

Sun Haiping, Xiang’s personal coach, broke down several times during the post-race press conference and cited a pre-existing, chronic foot injury as the cause of the withdrawal. While that may be true, I have to wonder whether the pressure of having more than a billion people expecting absolutely nothing less than a gold medal may have led to the type of overtraining that would exasperate such an injury.

Tonight marks a sad ending to a sad story for Liu Xiang, a truly phenomenal athlete who seemed almost destined for disaster by being forced on the impossible quest for perfection.
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Injury Forces Ritzenhein Out of Healthy Kidney 10-K

Posted May 8th, 2008 at 3:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

dathan ritzenhein winning 2007 healthy kidney 10k Defending champion and event record holder Dathan Ritzenhein has been forced to withdraw from the 4th annual Healthy Kidney 10-K scheduled for Saturday, May 17, in New York City.

“We’re very disappointed not to be able to return to New York for the Healthy Kidney 10-K,” Ritzenhein told reporters on a conference call today hosted by the New York Road Runners, the founders and organizers of the race. “With a whole array of ailments, it hasn’t come together in time for me to take on the great field that’s been assembled for the race. Knowing that it might set back my preparation [for Beijing], it was with regret that we made the decision to withdraw.”

Ritzenhein, 25, of Eugene, Ore., said that the injury to the third metatarsal of his left foot, which he sustained at the USA Cross Country Championships in February, has persisted.
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Injury Forces Ritzenhein Out of Central Park Challenge

Posted March 12th, 2008 at 1:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Ritzenhein_NYCM_06 A foot injury has forced Dathan Ritzenhein out of Saturday’s Central Park Challenge, incorporating the U.S. Men’s 8-K Championship, the New York Road Runners announced.

Ritzenhein, the 25 year-old who placed second at last year’s Olympic Trials marathon in Central Park, is no doubt disappointed that he cannot race Alan Webb, one of the few opportunities he would have to face the U.S. mile record-holder in a road race. The injury, to the third metatarsal on his left foot, warrants extra caution, given that this is an Olympic year.
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Hladyr & Wanjiru Withdraw from ING NYC Marathon

Posted October 4th, 2007 at 6:55 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Samuel Wanjiru world record half-marathon Two key athletes who had been contracted to run the 2007 ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 4, have withdrawn from the race, according to the New York Road Runners, the race founders and organizers.

Tetyana Hladyr of Ukraine, the surprise second place finisher in last year’s women’s race, has been forced to quit the field due to a foot injury which will require surgery, according to her agent Andrey Baranov. Her husband, Aleksandr Kuzin, still remains in the field, however. He set a personal best of 2:07:33 in a solo run in Linz last April.

Also out of the race is the world record holder in the half-marathon, Samuel Wanjiru. Wanjiru, who runs for a Japanese corporate team, decided to postpone his debut because of unspecified difficulties with his preparations, according to his agent, Federico Rosa.
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Two Elites Drop Out of New York City Marathon

Posted October 4th, 2007 at 10:41 AM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Previously announced entrants Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya and Tatiana Hladyr of the Ukraine will not compete in the ING New York City Marathon 2007 on Sunday, November 4, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

Wanjiru, the half-marathon world record-holder, had planned to make his marathon debut in New York; however, he told race organizers he was withdrawing due to problems with his preparation. Hladyr, the runner-up in last year’s race, has a foot injury that will require surgery, according to her manager, Andrey Baranov. The surgery is planned for October 11.

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Injury forces Ritzenhein out of U.S. 8-K Championship

Posted March 12th, 2007 at 11:37 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

A foot injury has forced Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein to withdraw from the U.S. 8-K Championship set for Saturday in New York City, race organizers said today.

“While we are crushed to lose Dathan from our 8-K field, we support his decision to withdraw,” said Mary Wittenberg, President and CEO of the New York Road Runners, which is hosting the event.

In a statement issued today, Wittenberg added: “Clearly the right thing to do is to rest a minor injury today before it becomes major so that he is back on the field as soon as possible in this year when the stakes are so high. I expect great things from Dathan this year, and the fans in New York will be glad to know we expect him back here again before the Olympic Marathon Trials on November 3.”
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