Dathan Ritzenhein

A famous figure in American distance running ever since his high school days - he emerged from the promising class of 2001 along with Alan Webb and Ryan Hall - Ritzenhein is now a three-time Olympian. He didn't finish the 10,000-meter race in Athens in 2004, but things went much better in Beijing, where he was the top American in the marathon and ninth overall. He tried to qualify in the marathon again this year, but finished a heartbreaking fourth at the trials, eight seconds out of an Olympic spot. Several months later, Ritzenhein earned a measure of redemption in the 10,000, getting a berth with a third-place finish while posting the Olympic “A” standard at 27:36.09 - an especially notable achievement considering the injuries he's battled throughout his career. Most recently, he had a rocky recovery from surgery on his left Achilles last year. “It’s been a rough road,” he said. “The last few years have been very difficult, for sure.” Ritzenhein, though, has built quite a resume despite his ailments. He is a former American record holder in the 5,000 meters and a former star at the University of Colorado, where he won the 2003 NCAA cross-country title. He has won the 12-kilometer U.S. cross-country title three times, most recently in 2010.