Addy Ritzenhein has had one of the most impressive high school distance careers in the country with three cross country state titles, an NXN win, and a Gatorade Athlete of the Year award. Even though she grew up around running, it wasn’t until her family moved to Colorado that she fully fell in love with the sport. Since then, she has become a leader at Niwot High School and a key part of one of the nation’s top programs.

Growing up with her dad, OAC coach and Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein, gave her a unique perspective on the sport while letting her forge her own path. In our Q&A, Addy reflects on her running journey, her team, the lessons she's learned, what she's looking forward to as she heads to NAU next fall, and her goals for NXN next weekend.

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Jasmine Fehr: You're a three-time cross country state champion in Colorado, an NXN champion, and have been awarded Gatorade Athlete of the Year. When did you get your start in running and how would you describe your journey to get to where you are now?

Addy Ritzenhein: I've been surrounded by running my entire life with my dad [Dathan Ritzenhein] being a professional runner and my mom also running in college and high school. I honestly didn’t really get into running until I moved to Colorado when I was in seventh grade. I joined a middle school running group, but I didn’t take it too seriously at all. As soon as I started high school, I became very consistent. I went to practice every day and hung out with the girls all the time. That’s when my relationship with running really started for me individually. Ever since then, I’ve absolutely loved it. I’ve been a part of the [Niwot High School] team for four years and it’s been going really good.

How did growing up with Dathan as your dad impact your own path into the sport?

I always remember him doing so many marathons later in his career. I would travel with my mom and my brother to watch him and I always thought that was really inspiring. That’s always motivated me and it still does now. Running has always been a big part of his life, and obviously it’s been a big part of my family's life too, but he does a really good job balancing his own passion for running while letting me and my brother follow our own paths. It’s been amazing having him as my dad and coach. I have many resources that I’m really grateful for.

Have you played any other sports in high school or did you know from freshman year onward that running was what you wanted to focus on?

When I started freshman year, I was all in on running. I wanted to keep doing it. But when I was younger, I did a lot of swimming. If I hadn’t moved to Colorado, I probably wouldn’t be a runner because when I lived in Michigan, I was a swimmer. I also played volleyball here and there and I did gymnastics, but none of them really stuck. Running is the one sport I’ve truly enjoyed.

You run for Niwot High School, one of the best cross country programs in the country. What do you think makes the team so special and sets the culture apart?

I think our team culture as a whole is really special. This year, our team is so closely knit and it’s truly amazing to have girls I can always rely on. I consider them my best friends and we hang out all the time. The guys’ team is very close too. I think that’s what makes our program unique. Our coaches are also so caring. They dedicate so much time to coaching us and that’s truly inspiring. That’s why I think our program is set apart from others.

You won your third state title a couple of weeks ago. What was your mindset going in and how did you prepare for winning that title?

I really just prepped by trusting my training and running for my teammates. Going to the line and just having fun has been my biggest mindset this year . It was special with it being my last time on that course. We had three freshmen in our top seven, which shows the depth of our team. It was really fun being out there with my teammates one last time and just running together.

Out of your three cross country titles, which one has meant the most to you?

I’d probably say my junior year. I really enjoyed that one. I also got the course record, which was really fun. That was our first time competing in 5A, since we moved up a division from my freshman and sophomore year. I really enjoyed being out there with those competitors. Sophomore year was fun too, and this year was also special. It’s all a tie, but individually, junior year was my favorite.

What are some of your goals looking ahead to NXN?

I’m trying to not go in with too many expectations. I just want to have fun! A lot of my goals are team-oriented. I want to race with my team and do my best to help them. I want to be confident and trust my training.

You won NXN as a sophomore. What stands out to you most about that day when you reflect back on it?

Something interesting about that day is that I didn’t even think about winning an individual national title. It didn’t even cross my mind. I maybe didn’t even think I was going to get top ten. I just wanted to be up there to help win the team title. Our team finished runner-up that year. That was in the back of my mind: I just wanted our team to do the best that we could. That ultimately led me to win the individual national title. It just showed me what I can do. It was a really emotional and surreal day. I’ll always remember that one!

How would you describe your growth from last year as a junior to this year?

I’ve really worked on being confident and having fun again. I can get caught up in results, but training is one of my favorite things to do. I love running and working out with my team. I just want to enjoy every moment of my senior year.

What went into your decision to choose NAU for your college career?

It was a hard decision, but I chose NAU because I felt really close with the girls on the team. During my recruiting visit, I felt like I was already a part of the team. I didn’t feel like a recruit. I also bonded immediately with Coach Cornfield and Coach Sadie. I felt like I fit in with the team and that the coaches believed in me. It felt so good overall!

What are you most excited about as you head to NAU next fall?

I’m excited to move up to the 6K. It’ll be different from the 5K and I think it’ll be interesting. I’m also excited to meet all the new incoming freshmen and be with the whole team.

What are some of your biggest goals for the rest of your senior year?

I want to see how our team does. I usually go into races with no specific plan and treat them like any other race. It would be amazing to surprise myself and see what I can do in the postseason for cross country or even track. Hopefully I’ll get some PRs and just enjoy being with my team.

Do you have any favorite quotes or mantras that you take with you into races?

I usually try not to think about anything while I’m racing, but a quote that’s always stood out to me is: “Pain is temporary, glory is forever.” Races can be really painful, so thinking about that helps me remember it’s only going to last about 17 minutes.

What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of running?

I love hanging out with my friends, I enjoy going shopping at any mall, especially on team trips. I also really enjoy being in the water. I love water parks, swimming, and paddleboarding. Those are my big two hobbies!

What are the best pieces of advice that both your coach and dad have given you?

From my coach, it’s always to have fun on the line. That keeps running lighthearted. From my dad, a big piece of advice that helped me at NXN my sophomore year was: don’t fight the mud!

If you could go for a run with anyone, who would it be and why?

I love running with my dad. I do some of my runs with him and I just really enjoy it. I’d probably still choose him.

Thanks for reading! This interview is part of our 2025 Nike Cross Nationals Series, where we’re catching up with some of the top high school athletes in the country as they prepare for the biggest meet of the fall. Stay tuned for more Q&As with the rising stars of high school distance running.