Road Rage: Dathan Ritzenhein leads the NYRR Dash to the Finish Line field

Ritz will look to break the tape Saturday
(TrackAndFieldPhoto.net)

It's been quite a while since Dathan Ritzenhein has raced. He'll officially end his racing hiatus Saturday at the New York Road Runners Dash to the Finish Line 5k. The course is being dubbed by NYRR as "flat and fast" and should fill a good void for those that want to be a part of the weekend, but not run the full 26.2. It's a similar effort to what the Boston Athletic Association has done with the BAA 5k, the day before the Boston Marathon.

Ritz will have his hands full with former Olympians, Lopez Lomong (1500) and Matt Tegenkamp (5000), but the darkhorse of the competition is 2011 USA Running Circuit Champion, Ben True. True has been very consistent all year and should not be overlooked!

On the Women's side, Deena Kastor is the featured competitor, but the heavy favorite is Oregon Track Club's Sally Kipyego. Kipyego has been on fire this year and has the hardware (from Daegu) to prove it. Also toeing the line is American 5000 record holder, Molly Huddle, who is coming back from injury, as well as the always consistent, Magdalena Lewy-Boulet. Aside from the fight between Huddle and Kipyego upfront (if Huddle is healthy and fit), the B-story will be the competition between Kastor and Lewy-Boulet, as both will be competing in the Olympic Trials Marathon in January. Kastor is the US Marathon record holder (2:19:36) and Lewy-Boulet has the third fastest time going into the trials (2:26:22). Between these two, Shalane Flanagan, Kara Goucher, Desi Davila and Amy Hastings, it will be an exciting race for the three spots to London.

Official writing about running Predictions:

Men
1. True
2. Teg
3. Ritz
4. Lomong

Women
1. Kipyego
2. Huddle
3. Lewy-Boulet
4. Kastor

Update: According to Spiked Up, Psyched Up, here's the rest of the field. Out of the rest, I like Aaron Braun, Scott Bauhs and Ben Bruce on the Men's side for top possible top five finish and Amy Hastings, Lisa Uhl (nee Koll) and Angela Bizzarri on the Women's side.

Men
Chris Thompson (GBR)
Andrew Bumbalough
Evan Jager
Brandon Bethke
Aaron Braun
Scott Bauhs
Brian Olinger
Ben Bruce
Harbert Okuti (UGA)
Brett Gotcher
Christian Hesch
Bobby Hartnett

Women
Lisa (Koll) Uhl
Amy Hastings
Liz Maloy
Angela Bizzarri
Sara Hall
Julie Culley
Frances Koons
Meghan ArmstrongPeyton
Caroline LeFrak
Ashley Higginson
Nicole Schappert
Stephanie Rothstein
Maggie Infeld
Lesley Higgins
Renee Tomlin
Cheryl Anderson

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