Sam Ritz broke the first of what he hopes will be multiple state records this season after running 4:10.50 for the mile in Boston in a national caliber field. Ritz sets himself up well going into the Millrose Games at the Armory next weekend, knowing if he has his day he can compete for the win (although things are shaping up to be very competitive).
Ritz is now in the middle of a historic season. Already he has run 9:10, the equivalent of 4:09.0 for 1600m and 1:52.81. And it's only the beginning of February. The 9:10, 4:10, 1:52 club is a very short one in PA history and basically only includes Ritz and Chris Spooner out of everyone (but could include Paul Springer and Craig Miller if we include splits/3ks). That's a very small, impressive group and speak volume about his incredible range and potential.
Ritz not only set a state record for the indoor mile (beating Tony Russell's mark from a year ago at this same meet) but also moved himself into #15 on the all time list for 1600m/mile, Surpassing guys like Russell and Barchet (again not counting splits) and moving immediately behind state 2 mile record holder and indoor state meet record holder Paul Springer.
It's Springer's name that is particularly relevant here as Ritz turns his attention toward the looming state meet and a record chase that few have been bold enough to try, and every fewer that have succeeded. Springer's record has listed since 2007 and it marked back to back titles for him in the event.
Ritz watched first hand as Tony Russell tried to chase Springer's mark a year ago and came up inches short. Russell took things hard from the gun, effectively trying to time trial to the record, an incredibly difficult run. In that race, Ritz ended up out of the medals after a fast early pace. In fact, he has yet to claim an indoor medal in his career.
However, it seems like that fact is destine to change barring something shocking. Not only is Ritz the fastest miler in state indoor history, he's the fastest competitor this season by roughly 13 seconds! An incredible margin that makes him a big favorite for gold. Ritz is also #1 in the state at 800m (but by a much smaller margin) thanks to a time he ran all the way back in December. He has already stated he plans to double and I doubt he is envisioning anything besides a pair of golds.
But Sam will have some difficult choices to make. For starters, the mile has some sneaky good competitors who will be waiting to feast on any slip up from Ritz. Billy McDevitt is the name that comes to mind first, and he just dominated an 800m field to run 1:57.12. Couple that with his impressive miles this year and he is a capable foe. No one should count out Kev James (4:12 PR last outdoors) or Jake Brophy (dominating state title run) if they choose to try and pit their strength against Ritz's speed.
Ritz is the favorite, but he will have to be careful navigating this field and properly using his energy for the double. He likes to run from the front and I suspect he will use that strategy to chase the meet record. That type of solo running can come back to hurt when all is said and done. Russell looked tired running his 1200m leg a year ago. Meanwhile, Ned Willig waited until the second half of the race to unleash his wheels in 2012 and doubled an excellent 3 flat in the DMR. Jack Huemmler and Wade Endress were both also excellent tacticians and kickers who did enough to win state gold and double back in the DMR and 800m respectively (Wade set the then state record in 1:51.73).
In fact, there are very few runners that were able to win state titles in the mile hammering away from the front. In 2007, Springer didn't break away until the last 400m or so. 2008 was a 200m kick, 2009 a second half surge, 2010 a 100m kick, and the rest were described above. What Russell did is historically stunning and very impressive. But Ritz has proven that he is impressive as well and regardless of what anyone thinks about his training, he is still moving strong, dropping 4 seconds off his previous season best in Boston. He also boasts a 1:57 close from the Armory Invite mile so he could still get in record range off fractions on the slower side and a patient first half.
The real tricky part will be the 800m. Ritz will be up against the likes of Alek Sauer, Dylan Eddinger, Elias Graca and possibly John Lewis. Those men have each had fantastic seasons of their own, including a recent 1:51 split by Lewis and 1:52 split by Sauer. A fresh John Lewis presents major issue for Ritz, as Lewis has already given Ritz all he can handle in December and has a mind blowing PR of 1:50.01.
I've made no secret about the fact that I think Sauer is the guy to beat in this race and he has backed it up by anchoring the state's best 4x8. Dylan Eddinger just dropped a 1:56 effort solo and Elias Graca is having an excellent stretch run out west after his 1:53.9 PR last spring. Throw all these guys together and a Ritz double gold will take a significant effort.
But we saw Wade do it in 2011 running about 4:13 and doubling back in 1:51 to beat a field that included Kyle Moran (anchor of the best 4x8 in the nation at the time), Hong Cho (future PR of 1:50.41) and Luke Lefebure (defending state champ and 1:51.0 PR). All those guys were fresh as well.
Ritz has proven he is a rare talent like Endress and if he sits on an early fast pace and tries to bring it home (like he did against Lewis earlier this year and like Endress did in 2011) gold is in play (and so is a 1:51 type mark). But it will take smart racing in the mile in order to preserve his legs for a fast close and powerful sprint.
All in all, I'm excited about Ritz's progression. I'm bummed we won't see him at the outdoor state meet, but I get the feeling we will see him back at Henderson for another year. Realistically, Ritz v Brehm v James v Hoey v others is in play. Races like that are why we need a Meet of Champs. Heck, maybe one day soon races like that will be a meet of champs.
Good luck to Ritz this season in his quest for history. It's going to be fun to watch.
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