Putting on the Ritz

By Dave Devine & Steve Underwood
ESPN RISE

Fans following the 2000 Foot Locker Finals, both at Walt Disney World's Oak Trail Golf Course and from online and afar, were giddy with expectation. 

It was to be the battle of the "Big Three" prep distance running legends and future Olympians Dathan Ritzenhein, Alan Webb and Ryan Hall, athletes who were the crest of the wave of the revival in the sport.

"Ritz" was the defending national champ, Webb had set a course record at Foot Locker South and would months later destroy the prep mile record, and Hall would also scare the four-minute mile barrier while putting up an impressive list of credentials.