Niceville eager to make statement at 4A state meet
By WILL PARCHMAN
Northwest Florida Daily News
315-4484 | willp@nwfdailynews.com
NICEVILLE - Niceville track coach Sherman Eller put a clear, direct message to his athletes in advance of the Eagles' appearance in the Class 4A state meet today at Winter Park.
Just play loose.
"Relax, go for it, you have nothing to lose and let's see what happens," Eller said.
The Eagles have qualified nine athletes for today's state meet, the most for the school since 2003 when it qualified 10. It also blows away the two athletes Niceville had qualified in each of the past two years.
Leading the charge is long distance guru Christian Ritacco, who won a regional title on this same Winter Park track in the 3200-meter run with a 9:35.02. Eller said Ritacco has a legitimate shot at a state title if he continues his steady rise.
"It's going to be fun to watch," Eller said of Ritacco. "It's one of those where on paper he has the third-fastest time, but they're going to run the race and you never know what's going to happen."
The boys 4x800 relay team of Donovan Woodberry, Jeremy Burke, Cody Skarupa and Michael Cooley qualified by breaking a 13-year-old school record with a 3:21.12, and discus qualifier Charlie Tidwell tossed a 163' in regionals to break his own school record.
Rachael Klinger will compete in two disciplines after she qualified third in the 100 hurdles and fourth in high jump.
Kaitlin Davis (discus) will attempt to make it an all-Niceville finish in discus after turning in a third-place finish at regionals, and Emily Sager, who Eller said was primed to shock some people, qualified with a fourth-place finish in the triple jump.
"We know where they stand on paper," Eller said, "but we feel confident and ready to pull some surprises."
