2023 Nike Cross Nationals Champion First Verbal Commit From Class of 2026 For Coach Jarred Cornfield, NAU Program

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

John Nepolitan Photo

Addy Ritzenhein of Niwot High School in Colorado announced her verbal commitment to Northern Arizona University on Sunday morning via her Instagram.

The 2023 Nike Cross Nationals champion is the first girl from the class of 2026 to announce her verbal commitment to join newly appointed head coach Jarred Cornfield and the NAU women's program.

"I am so beyond excited and grateful to announce my verbal commitment to Northern Arizona University to further pursue my athletic and academic career," Ritzenhein said in her Instagram post.

"I want to thank my family, friends, and coaches for getting me here and Coach Cornfield for giving me this amazing opportunity as a Lumberjack!"

Ritzenhein, the daughter of former American record holder in the men's 5,000-meter Dathan Ritzenhein, qualified for her second consecutive Nike Cross Nationals final this last fall, earning All-American honors for the second year in a row with a fifth-place finish at Glendoveer Golf Course on Dec. 7, 2024, in Portland.

Ritzenhein's resume also includes six Colorado state championships between track and cross country, a Nike Indoor Nationals title in the 4x800 relay in 2022 and was named the Gatorade National Cross Country Player of the Year in 2023.

Ritzenhein made history last spring as the first high school student athlete to sign a Name, Image and Likeness deal with On.