Dathan Ritzenhein Wins Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon

By Adam Kopet

Dathan Ritzenhein won the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon Sunday, running 1:01:24 as he prepares for April's Boston Marathon.

Going into the race, Ritzenhein's coach, Kevin Hanson, believed Ritzenhein was about 50 percent fit. His last race had been the USATF 5KM Championships in November, where he finished 12th in 14:10. That was a race that Ritzenhein described himself as not being fit.

My last race I was .01% fit so it has been a solid 9 weeks! 9 more to go to be 99.9%.

— Dathan Ritzenhein (@djritzenhein) February 9, 2019

In the race itself, Ritzenhein passed Kenya's Emmanuel Bett in the final 400 meters to take the win by seven seconds. It was his first road race win since 2017. It also now stands as a Hansons Distance Project team record.

It’s always a good feeling to break the tape! Had a blast to win @RunRocknRoll New Orleans half in 61:24. Had to dig deep to kick the last 400m but I surprised myself with where my fitness was. 61 minute half marathons are my bread and butter I guess!

— Dathan Ritzenhein (@djritzenhein) February 10, 2019

Berhane Dibaba of Ethiopia won the women's race in 1:11:31 by one second over Jane Kibii of Kenya.

In other road racing news, Ethiopia’s Roza Dereje and Kenya's Eric Kiptanui won the Barcelona Half Marathon.

Dereje won the women's race in 1:06:01. She finished 44 seconds ahead of Dibaba Kuma, also of Ethiopia. They were the only two athletes to run under 1:08:00.

Kiptanui faced more competition in the final stretch of the race that saw three other men finish within seven seconds of him. Kiptanui won in 1:01:04 with Abebe Degefa of Ethiopia one second back. Ethiopia's Betesfa Getahun was third in 1:01:07 and Kenya's Jonathan Korir placed fourth in 1:01:10.

In Japan, the National Corporate Half Marathon saw Amos Kurgat of Kenya take the win in 1:01:06. Kurgat's performance aside, nine Japanese men broke 62 minutes in the race, an impressive feat.

Turning to doping news, 2017 Tokyo Marathon winner Sarah Chepchirchir has been provisionally suspended by the IAAF for a doping violation according to Michael Pavitt of Inside the Games. The Kenyan is the sister-in-law and former training partner of disgraced marathoner Jemima Sumgong.

Chepchirchir has been charged based on her finding from her athlete biological passport. Of her five completed marathons, Chepchirchir won three of them, including the 2017 Tokyo Marathon, which stands as her personal best (2:19:47).