Dathan Ritzenhein last? Dathan Ritzenhein, DNF? It is hard believing the last two outcomes for the Rockford native, 21, viewed by many as the future of American distance running.

Of course, the 10,000-meter U.S. Olympic Trials - and Games themselves - are not jogs in the park for anyone. Especially trying to run on a broken foot.

When Ritzenhein pulled up four miles into the 10,000 meters at Athens Aug. 20, it marked the end to a year of Mt. Everest-type highs and Death Valley lows. Peaks included coming back from stress fractures in both femurs to win the 2003 NCAA cross country title, and running a U.S. collegiate 10,000-meter record 27:38.50 this spring at Stanford.

Troughs? Another stress fracture - this time in the fourth metatarsal of his left foot - presented Ritzenhein tough alternatives: he could limp through the Trials and probably earn an Olympic berth, based on his A- standard time at Stanford, but possibly hurt his foot worse. Or he could bag what he'd worked and dreamed toward.

Faced with Hobson's choice, "Ritz" opted to hobble on.

Few runners, even healthy, have much luck racing against the likes of Kenenisa Bekele. Ritzenhein went to Athens for the experience, ran with the world's best, then dropped out near four miles to keep his injury from growing worse.

Before the Games, Ritzenhein announced he was leaving the University of Colorado to turn professional. The hoped-for result: time to heal, less pressure to race, and maturation for Games to come. MR