Rockford's Dathan Ritzenhein is a Michigan running legend at age 19. He won a slew of national championships while in high school, smashed records everywhere, then headed for the mountains. As a freshman last fall, he and junior teammate Jorge Torres paced the University of Colorado to its first NCAA men's cross-country title. On March 8, Torres and Ritzenhein finished 2-3 in the NCAA indoor 5,000-meter championships, trailing South African Alistair Cragg of the University of Arkansas (13:49.80) by an eyeblink. (Torres crossed in 13:50.35, Ritzenhein in 13:50.51.)

Chris Lear, whose book "Running with the Buffaloes" chronicles CU's 1998 cross-country season, caught up with Ritzenhein the day after the Rockford Rocket's indoor effort. Here's what Ritz had to say:

MR: First off, tell us a bit about your race.

DR: I have mixed emotions. I think that I should have run a lot differently. Then the outcome might have been different. But I was proud to be able to close fast and know I had leg speed left in me.

MR: What would you have done differently?

DR: Jorge and I could have taken it out early, hammered a 13:40 pace and seen who would go with us. Or, when I made my move with a mile left, I could have pressed instead of letting someone else take the lead.

MR: The freshmen at this meet (in the 1500, 3000 and 5000) have fared pretty poorly. Would you classify this as a learning experience?

DR: Definitely. I learned that sometimes you just have to take the bullet and do your own thing, instead of sitting back and waiting until the end.

MR: You've been in Colorado since the summer of 2001. Do you feel any difference now racing at sea level?

DR: None at all. (In Colorado) when I look at my watch, I know I am running slower. But as long as I know I'm getting the same workout in, it's OK. The transition went great last summer. It was a big help to get to know Boulder, the guys and everything before classes began in fall.

MR: It's been a mild winter in Boulder. Have you enjoyed that compared to the Michigan winters you're used to?

DR: Oh yeah. You know what I'm talking about now. (Editor's note: Chris Lear recently moved to Ann Arbor). It's like paradise in Colorado, running in shorts and t-shirts in January. I'm loving it.

MR: What do you miss about your hometown and Michigan in general?

DR: I miss a lot actually. There are just little things, like the trees. There aren't trees out in Colorado, really. And Lake Michigan, stuff like that. But it's been a nice change. I still like it out there a lot.

MR: Your high-school coach was embroiled in controversy (for dispensing supplements to athletes, in violation of school policy) and subsequently resigned his position. Now things have settled, do you have any final word on what transpired there?

DR: It's a shame that it came out the way it did. I have no respect for how the press handled it. It was not a fair situation. Whatever the rules may be, I don't think it was handled right.

MR: You'll soon be departing for Dublin, Ireland, to compete in the World Cross Country Championships in the men's senior 12k race. Last year you finished third in the 8K junior race, held in extremely muddy conditions in Oostende, Belgium. The course in Dublin is likely to be as treacherous as in Oostende. You told me recently that you think you have to gamble a little bit when you run World Cross meets. What will that mean this year on the senior level?

DR: Well, it doesn't mean quite the same thing as it means on the junior level. I think that if it's muddy you don't move up, no matter what. If you go out and show 'em you have a little bit in you early, sometimes they don't know how to respond, so ...

MR: Do you think enduring Midwestern winters helps to you a tougher runner?

DR: It might help. The Midwest historically has sweet athletes. Once you build that toughness in snow and mud, then get solid ground under you, it can make you hard to beat. Plus we're used to running in sloppy conditions that a lot of guys don't like.

MR: You're two-thirds done with your freshman year. What are you looking to accomplish this spring? And what did you learn here indoors that you can take with you?

DR: I am looking forward to running a really big 5000. I don't know what the (NCAA) freshman record is - it might be something crazy set by some Kenyan - but depending on what it is, I'd like to give that a shot. I think I can make a step from the 13:44 I ran last year ... not just a normal college step, but a big one. I'm also looking forward to the NCAA outdoor track meet. I think I've learned from my indoor experience to make the pace tough and see who really wants it.

MR: You and (Wheeling, Ill. native) Torres have been running virtually lockstep in races this year. Does that extend to practice too? And has Jorge, a veteran at CU, taught you a lot?

DR: Yeah. It shows that we train together, because we're within a second or two of each other in every race. We do almost every workout together. Training with Jorge has been a great learning experience overall. MR