The first time Ryan Hall raced the 12-K event at the USA Cross Country Championships it was in frosty conditions in New York City's Van Cortlandt Park in February, 2006. Spectators shivered, but Hall was on fire, romping to victory over his closest rival, Jorge Torres, by 27 seconds.
It is was in that race that Hall, last November's U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon champion, saw the future.
"That kind of opened up my eyes a little bit to the longer distances," said Hall on a conference call today from his home in Big Bear Lake, Calif., where he is preparing to leave for the U.S. Cross Country Championships in San Diego next Saturday.
Later in 2006, Hall extended his racing range by 8 more kilometers, winning the U.S. 20-K title and finishing 11th at the IAAF World Road Running Championships at the same distance. Under coach Terrence Mahon and Team Running USA California, the Asics-sponsored athlete moved to the half-marathon for the first time in January, 2007, shattering Mark Curp's 21 year-old U.S. record and becoming the first American to dip below the one hour mark (59:43). Last April he made his marathon debut in London in 2:08:24, the fastest debut ever by an American, setting him up for his Trials victory in New York City.
"It was a really special race for me," Hall told the New York Track Writers luncheon of the Trials. "It was definitely the highlight of my career so far."
Gearing up again for the Flora London Marathon on April 13, Hall and coach Mahon find next Saturday's USA Cross Country Championships to fit well with their training. A second 12-K title is certainly not out of the question.
"It's definitely a possibility," said Hall of a victory on Saturday. "I'm very fit (but) I'm not going to guarantee victory or anything."
The 2000m loop on which Hall and his rivals will race in Mission Bay Park is mostly flat for the first half, but the second half features five small hills. Overall the course should be fast, especially compared to the thick mud (and high altitude) of Boulder, Colo., where the meet was held last year.
"It seems really flat and fast," commented Hall, but he cautioned reporters that recent rains in Southern California could make it stickier than usual.
Last year's champion, Alan Culpepper, will not be defending his title, and runner-up Adam Goucher is coming back slowly after a foot surgery and will also skip the meet. But Dathan Ritzenhein, who was second to Hall at the Olympic Trials Marathon and third at last year's cross country championships, will be in the field, and should give Hall his toughest challenge. Other top competitors in the race include Dan Browne, Andrew Carlson, James Carney, Anthony Famiglietti, Jason Lehmkuhle, Edward Moran, and Jorge Torres. The meet serves as the USA selection race for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 30.
Hall will race sparingly this year, and does not have any competitions scheduled after London and before the Olympic Games Marathon on August 24. Should he earn a spot on the U.S. team for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, he said today that he wouldn't accept it, worried about the potential impact on his marathon in London and other factors.
"I'd love to but I don't think I would," he said of the World Cross Country Championships.
As for London, where Hall stunned observers last year by taking the lead late in the race before finishing seventh, he's looking forward to his return, and possibly a fast time.
"Sometimes you can put limits on yourself," said Hall, adding that he planned to "stick his nose" in the race. "I'm not exactly sure what is possible."
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