Spiderman Webb Forced Out By Illness
American star miler and local hero Alan Webb of Reston,VA, has been forced to withdraw from the 12 km event at the 2006 USA Cross Country Championships and World Cross Country Team Trials presented by Gleukos this weekend due to illness. New York Road Runners officials made the announcement Tuesday, February 14.

Webb, 23, one of the race favorites, will not be able to compete in Sunday's race at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx because he has not recovered from bronchitis suffered after returning from Spain two weeks ago. He competed in two cross country races there as part of his preparation.

"I was a wreck," said Webb, who added that he lost eight pounds during the illness. "I couldn't run, and this was a pretty easy decision. It's a big bummer."

The original story: Webb and Ritzenhein Face Off in the 12K Race

From Running USA Wire, February 9, 2006

The two brightest young stars in U.S. distance running, Dathan Ritzenhein and Alan Webb [Photo of Alan Webb by Victah from the 2005 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships], are entered to face off in the 12K race at the 2006 USA Cross Country Championships and World Cross Country Team Trials presented by Gleukos, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

"Dathan and Alan are America's top young guns, and they are aiming for the international stage," said Wittenberg. "The future of American long distance running looks promising and bright in their hands. Whenever they race each other, sparks fly, so we can look forward to something special happening here in New York on February 19."

The national championships, which will be held in New York City's famed Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx on February 18-19, traditionally attract the nation's best athletes. This year's total prize money purse of $50,000 is the largest prize purse in USA Cross-Country Championships history and is three times larger than last year's $16,000 purse. The 12K championship is scheduled for Sunday, February 19, as the closing race of the championships weekend.

Both Ritzenhein and Webb began the 2006 season abroad, and each has posted strong performances in cross-country events. Ritzenhein, 23, of Boulder, CO, is the defending USA Cross Country Champion at 12K, and finished 62nd at the 2005 IAAF World Cross-Country Championships in Saint-Galmier, France. On January 8, 2006, he returned to the Belfast International Cross Country to attempt to defend his 2005 title, and finished third against a competitive field despite running almost a minute faster over the 9.81K course. At the Visit Scotland Great Edinburgh International Cross-Country on January 14, he finished fourth against another world-class field.

Webb, 23, of Reston, VA, running the first two international cross country races of his career, placed fifth at the 10.75K Cross Internacional Ciudad de Valladolid on January 22, and fourth in the Cross Ciudad de Haro on January 29, both in Spain. Webb first made headlines as a prep runner in 2001 by breaking the four-minute mile and setting an U.S. schoolboy record on the track, and he has continued to reign as one of America's best milers. Despite focusing much of his career on track running, he finished sixth in the 4K at the 2005 USA Cross Country Championships.

Ritzenhein and Webb have met four times, with Ritzenhein defeating Webb all but once. However, Webb's year-to-date performances have demonstrated a new capacity for the longer cross-country distances, suggesting this year the match-up could be more competitive.

Also entered in the championships field are Jorge Torres of Boulder, CO, the top American finisher from the 2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 4K; 2000 USA Cross Country 4K and 12K champion Adam Goucher of Portland, OR and 2004 Olympic steeplechaser Anthony Famiglietti of New York City.

The Presidents' Weekend schedule features the men's Open 4K and women's Open 8K championship races on Saturday, February 18, and the women's Open 4K and men's Open 12K events on Sunday, February 19. The top six finishers in each championship race will earn a berth on Team USA for the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, on April 1-2.

Highlights from the 2006 USA Cross Country Championships presented by Gleukos will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 on February 20, 2006.

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