Dathan Ritzenhein was in Athens four years ago representing the United States, but he didn't really feel like an Olympian.

At the U.S. Olympic trials in 2004, "Ritz" competed with a painful stress fracture in his foot that turned into a full break during the 10,000 meters competition. He was still named to the team, however, when Meb Keflezighi decided to compete only in the marathon at the Games.

But during the Olympics, Ritzenhein re-injured the foot and was unable to finish his event.

"It was very bittersweet. The overall experience that everyone thinks of was great," Ritzenhein reflected during a recent interview with the Camera. "But during the race I felt like everyone else was ready and super-fit, and like I was out of shape getting over the injury.

"I felt almost out of place."

Since using the sport to clear his mind at the age of 11 in the aftermath of his parents' divorce, Ritzenhein has felt at home on the trail or the track.

The versatile and talented former University of Colorado star won the Foot Locker National Cross Country title in 1999 and 2000 while still in high school, won an NCAA cross country title in 2003 and won the USA Cross Country Championships this year. Ritzenhein also finished second in the NCAA 5,000-meter championships in 2004 and set a U.S. collegiate record in the 10,000-meter race in 2004 during his Boulder days.

Last November, Ritzenhein qualified for the 2008 Olympics in marathon with a personal-best time of 2:11:06 at the U.S. trials.

"I've had a lot of success atshorter distances and in cross country in particular," Ritzenhein said. "But I've always had a really strong aerobic foundation. So I believe as long as I can put in the training and stay healthy I can perform well in marathon."

Ryan Hall set a new U.S. trials record (2:09:02) in winning the marathon. Ritzenhein was second with Brian Sell (2:11:40) on his heels. The American trio has dedicated their race in Beijing to Ryan Shay, who collapsed and died during the U.S. trials.

"It was such a deflating moment," Ritzenhein said of the tragedy. "I found out about five minutes afterwards. You go from an extreme high to thinking, 'What's it all worth?'

"Running is such a close-knit group. There is a lot of camaraderie among the athletes and it really struck home. ... (Shay) gave it everything he had, and that is the best thing we can do in Beijing to honor him."

Shay died on the streets of New York, which is where Ritzenhein will compete today in the NYC Half-Marathon, his final race before the Olympics. Former Buff star Adam Goucher will also be in the race. Boulder's James Carney was scheduled to be there but decided against it.

"I'm not really doing it so much as to stay sharp but just looking forward to it because it will be a good test of fitness," said Ritzenhein, who set a Central Park record of 28:08 at the Healthy Kidney 10K in 2007. "I think there will be good competition and the weather will be fairly similar to Beijing. It will allow me to get a lot of information before the Olympics."

Even though his focus for the Olympics is on the marathon, Ritzenhein competed in the 10,000 trials in Eugene, Ore., and finished eighth. His former roommate at CU, Jorge Torres, finished second to join the impressive list of Beijing-bound athletes with ties to Boulder.

"I kind of trained through it and when I was running the last couple laps I knew I would finish where I was," Ritzenhein said of the 10,000 finals. "So I looked ahead to see Jorge, and it was just so awesome. I was able to congratulate him right after the finish."

Two current CU athletes, Jenny Barringer and Billy Nelson, also qualified in the steeplechase. And former Buff Kara Goucher qualified in the 5,000 and 10,000.

"It was amazing this year to think about how incredible it was that they won the Big 12," Ritzenhein, who left CU after his junior year in 2004, said of the CU men's outdoor title at Potts Field in May. "The program has come such a long way since I was a freshman there."

Next month Ritzenhein -- still only 25 -- will have another chance to shine on the Olympic stage four years after limping home from Athens.

"The experience I gained last time was knowing how incredible and huge the stage is that you are on," Ritzenhein said. "I still deal with the disappointment right now. It's something I'll deal with until hopefully I can make up for it."