 |
DyeStat Cross Country 2000
|
National Finals |
 |
Preview
Titanic Clash Awaits Boys' Distance World
By Stephen (steveu) Underwood
Pop quiz: What are the biggest differences between a World Wrestling Federation showdown and Saturday's Foot Locker Final boys CC race?
OK, besides the obvious.
Well, first of all, the hype that's been building all year for this event is genuine and palpable, with an unscripted drama about to unfold. But more importantly, the four-letter words you hear all morning (well, mainly for about 14 minutes) will be suitable for a family audience. Or make that an audience of distance fanatics.
Ritz! Webb! Hall!
In fact, they are the most exciting four-letter words in prep distance running since � oh, let's say Ryun.
Indeed the clash that everyone's been waiting for the last 12 months - can any words really describe it? - will finally happen before a lucky throng of fans at the Oak Trail Golf Course @ Shades of Green in the land of Disney.
Of course, the field is 32 strong from four regions, all wanting to prove their worth over the flat, 3.1-mile layout. But consider the shock wave that would shake the running world if the winner's name (or nickname) had more than four letters.
On the other hand, even among that trio, it is really one young man's race to lose.
The Big Three
Confident, yet humble, defending champ Dathan Ritzenhein (Rockford HS, Mich.) would never talk himself up compared to his peers. But most of the rest of the prep running world would be glad to do it for him - and why not? Ritz has won every major race over every major rival since he took the Michigan Class A 3200 on the track as a sophomore.
The senior has been unbeaten in CC the last two years, and this year has put up a series of marks and victory margins that have been almost unheard of. He has smashed 15:00 for 5K seven times, with his Division I state romp in 14:10 and a 14:35 triumph over a tough Parkside course at Foot Locker Midwest heading up the Herculean efforts.
"It's definitely the (increased) mileage," says Ritz, explaining his improvement from a junior year that looked hard to top. "Even through the state meet I was doing 10-15 mpw more than last year. This week we've cut it down, but I've had some great interval workouts lately."
Seeking to define the trump card he hopes he holds, the Colorado signee admits plain old guts plays a big part in it. "I'm not afraid to really go," he says. "I'd rather go and die than not go at all."
However, if Lord Ritz is to be unseated, it will most assuredly be the result of the efforts of Alan Webb (South Lakes HS, Va.) or Ryan Hall (Big Bear HS, Calif.).
While Webb and his coach Scott Raczko refused to comment for this story, the senior has let his legs do the talking all year.
Webb was 8th at nationals last fall, then did not compete in the post-season as a junior in track - both casting a somewhat disappointing hue on what were otherwise stellar seasons. But he has been better than ever the last few months, with dominating wins at Great American (14:59), the Virginia state meet and Foot Locker South (14:43, winning by 23 seconds).
"Webb will be more prepared this time," says Pearl Watts, veteran Virginia track official, journalist and general observer. "(Even) if it's really fast, I think Webb has the confidence to go with (Ritzenhein) � and I believe he is very confident from his recent workouts."
Hall, on the other hand, must hope that he can reverse a bit of a downturn in what has been something of a roller-coaster year. After bouncing back from the side effects of a medication he was taking to rock California with a Mt. SAC course-record 14:28 in his section final and a subsequent state title, he had "not the greatest day in the world" at Foot Locker West.
"I didn't taper that much and my legs just didn't have that snap," says the FL outdoor mile champ of an effort that saw a late lead vanish as he faded to fourth, nine ticks behind winner Seth Watkins. "Qualifying was the main objective, but I planned to break away at the end � but in the last 800 I was just left out to dry."
"I think I'll bounce back," he adds - and with his spiritual strength adding to his mental and physical fortitude, it's hard to imagine he won't. "I've felt better this week � and I think the flat course is going to help me. It should be a great race with some real fast times."
The Spoilers
But don't forget, there is a great deal of life after the three-headed monster that is Ritz-Webb-Hall. Yes, another big question Saturday is who is going to get fourth place - or has the best chance to break into the top three if one or more of the faves falters?
Many believe some of the South qualifiers are in the best position to do it. Virginia junior Bobby Lockhart was runner-up (15:06) behind Webb at McAlpine and has the fastest mile PR (4:08) outside of the big three. "One thing about Lockhart � the bigger the meet, the more he seems to step it up," says Virginia's Watts. "He doesn't get to run much against real tough competition, but when he does, he seems to beat everyone he is supposed to and more. He should be able to pick a few people off in the last mile."
Lockhart and Steve Maddox of Texas worked together to finish 2-3 in the South and could help each other again. They were 16th and 24th respectively at nationals last year.
And don't overlook national first-timers Joe Thorne (Ga.), Bobby Curtis (Ky.), Westley Keating (Texas), Mike Swope (Fla.) and Rod Koborsi (Texas). Koborsi and Swope are senior state champs, with the latter repping the home state. But Thorne and Curtis, despite being a junior and sophomore respectively, might be even more dangerous.
Though last weekend's results out of the West were surprising, there's little doubt the region will put on a strong showing.
The incredible story was the 1-3-19 showing from Flathead HS (Mont.) trio Watkins, David Vidal and Kurt Michels. Watkins and Vidal advance to Orlando - might they be the ones who can break out near the top? After last Saturday, they shouldn't be intimidated by anyone.
"I couldn't believe it when I saw those orange jerseys at the top of Reservoir Hill," says Flathead coach Paul Jorgensen, recalling his charges in 2nd and 3rd place with a half-mile to go. "Seth had looked like he was hurting earlier, but he must have worked through it. We were pretty ecstatic at the finish."
None of the West qualifiers have ever run at Orlando, but the likes of West runner-up Chandler Goodwin (Utah) and Seth Pilkington (Utah, Great American MOC runner-up) have plenty of big-meet experience. Oregon's Erik Heinonen is no stranger to the big time, either. Somewhat newer to this level of competition will be Michael Kiter (Wash.) and Brett Gotcher (Calif.).
The East will be out to show that despite just one returnee and a perhaps undeserved stigma of slower times, it can make waves.
Seton McAndrews (N.Y.), who didn't even run Foot Locker NE last year, clocked a 15:33 on the tough Van Cortlandt Park course to edge Brian McGovern (Conn.) by less than a second.
McGovern has been here before. Sixth in his region in '99, an impressive 15th at nationals and now the leading NE returnee, he cautions against selling his neck of the woods short.
"We will see soon enough," he says. "A meet such as Van Cortlandt is a very different course than Foot Locker's in Florida. This year I know what to expect and hopefully I can use some of my knowledge to my advantage. My goal is to improve upon last year.
"I'm just happy to be able to run in the race and not have to worry about the cold weather!"
Joining those top two will be Foot Locker Outdoor steeplechase champ Justin Romaniuk (N.Y.), Patrick Bensen (Mass.), Brendan Fennell (N.Y.), state champs Mint Henk (Vt.) and Charles Millioen (N.Y.) and Peter Meindl (N.Y.).
It won't be easy for the Midwest to defend its team title this year; Ritz is the only returnee from last year's powerhouse.
Still, the region boasts state champs like Jason Sandfort (Mo.), Aaron Fisher (Ind.) and Eric Grumstrup (S.D.), along with highly touted Matt Esche (Wisc.) and Dan Glaz (Ill.). But the most intriguing stories might be the Moores of Michigan.
Tim Moore (Novi HS) was second behind teammate Chris Toloff all year, though the duo took the next two spots after Ritz in the Great Lakes State's Division I race. But Toloff could not run FL MW due to injury. So Moore not only became the lone non-senior to qualify in the region, but also took the runner-up spot at Kenosha.
Meanwhile, Sean Moore (Saline HS) epitomized the opportunity Foot Locker presents. After a somewhat disappointing state meet (9th) in which he died in the final stretch, he ran the race of his life by far at FL MW to take 6th.
"After state I said to my coaches, 'I've got two weeks until Foot Locker. What can I do to get better?'" says Moore. "They said to get my kick back, I just needed to relax."
After three weeks of hard work, the senior started conservatively, moved up into the top 15, then found himself staring at the top eight in the final mile. "I said, 'This is your chance. Let's just go.' I just took off in a blaze of fury � I was very, very excited to qualify.
And he should be. But one of the best things about the Foot Locker Finals is that it's more than just a race. Take it from three-time qualifier Ritzenhein: "Just tell them it will be the most fun they've had yet," he says. "Foot Locker does a great job having so much for us to do. If you just try and have fun, the race will come by itself."
Return to Foot Locker Finals page
