2013 Track and Field
Roster
Christian Ritacco
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 168
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Niceville, Fla.
2012 Outdoor: Set a school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase April 6 at the Duke Invitational with a time of 9:36.17 … Recorded a time of 4:14.15 in the 1,500-meter March 24 at Western Carolina … Turned in a mark of 15:54.55 in the 5,000-meter March 16 at UNC Charlotte’s 49er Classic.
2012 Indoor: Crossed the 3,000-meter finish line in 8:54.82 Feb. 17 at the A-Sun Indoor Championships … Posted a time of 15:55.86 in the 5,000-meter Jan. 28 at ETSU’s Niswonger Invitational.
2011 XC: Earned Atlantic Sun All-Conference Second Team honors, finishing 10th at the A-Sun Championships with a time of 25:41.64 … Upstate’s third finisher at the A-Sun meet, helping the men’s team win the 2011 Atlantic Sun Championship, the program’s first team title … Recorded a personal-best time of 25:33.55 Sept. 16 at the Clemson Invite, marking the third-best time in Upstate history.
2011 Outdoor: Set a school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:49.05 at the Tiger Track Classic in Auburn, S.C.
2011 Indoor: Posted a career-best time of 9:06.01 in the 3,000-meter Feb. 18 at the Atlantic Sun Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tenn., helping the Spartans to a fourth-place finish … Recorded a time of 16:08.33 in the 5,000-meter Feb. 19 at the A-Sun Championships.
2010 XC: Ranks fourth all-time at Upstate, recording a time of 25:50.59 at the A-Sun Championship Oct. 30 to finish 21st … Claimed 25th at the Upstate Invitational Oct. 16 with a time of 26:52.62 … Crossed the line in 27:10.52 at the Greater Louisville Classic Oct. 2 … Posted a time of 27:15.90 at the Clemson meet Sept. 17, taking 37th-place … Recorded a time of 27:48 at the Eye Opener Sept. 5, finishing 57th.
2010 Indoor: Competed in two events, picking up a 9:16.76 in the 3000m (2/26) and a 16:04.22 in the 5000m (2/27).
2010 Outdoor: Crossed the finish line in the 3K Steeplechase on 5/15 with a 9:56.54 as Upstate’s top performer for the season … Also competed in the 800m with a season best, 2:05.51 (4/30) and 1500m with a 4:10.74 on 4/24 … Posted a 9:11.34 in the 3000m on 3/20.
2009 XC: Strong runner for the Spartans ... Was the second Spartan to cross the finish line at three of the meets ... Recorded season-best time of 26:29 at the Eye Opener (9/5), as he finished 11th ... Finished 15th at the A-Sun Championships (10/31) and earned all-freshman team accolades ... Finished 23rd at the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational (9/18).
Before USC Upstate: A four-year letterman in cross country and track and field, earning all-county honors in cross country his sophomore, junior and senior seasons ... Won the county championships as a senior with a time of 16:04 and helped to lead Niceville to the team title ... Also was the 4A District cross country runner-up, the 4A Region cross country runner up, and earned a seventh-place finish at the 4A Florida Cross Country Championships with a personal-best time of 15:55 ... Dropped his 5k personal best from 17:06 in his junior season to 15:55 in his senior campaign ... Earned a Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star meet selection and finished eighth in the senior race at the 2008 Footlocker South Regional (16:11) and was a part of the All-South Senior Team ... Named the 2009 Northwest Florida Cross Country Athlete of the Year ... Took second in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 9:41.80 at the Florida Class 4A Track & Field Championships.
Personal: Born on April 29, 1991 ... Son of Chris and Kathy Ritacco ... Has a sister named Meagan (23) ... Majoring in history/political science ... Hobbies include surfing, running and shooting guns at a shooting range ... Enjoys eating seafood and Chinese food ... Lists "21 Jump Street" has his favorite movie ... "Made in America" by Toby Keith is his favorite song ... Fall is his favorite season ... Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson is his favorite book ... Dream job is to be on a SWAT Team.
