Sussex Tech Grad Emily Ritter Aims For Rio Olympics

June 30, 2016 Posted by Matt Pencek Featured Sports, Local Sports, National Sports

Emily Ritter was a Henlopen Conference Cross Country champion at Sussex Tech. During her college track and field career at Rider she earned NCAA All-American Honors. Now Ritter looks to be part of the biggest stage in sports, the Olympics.

On Friday, July 1, the U.S. Track and Field Trials begin in earnest at the University of Oregon (the Walking finals were scheduled for Thursday, June 30 in Salem, Oregon). Ritter will make her bid for Team USA by competing in the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase. She placed ninth in this event at last year’s NCAA Championships, also held at Oregon. Her participation that year made Rider history as Ritter became the first female track and field athelete to qualify for the championships.

She enters the trials free of any pressure.

“It’s just a special feeling to compete at this event and to know that there is no pressure on me in any way because I am not a favorite,” Ritter said.

The finals for the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase are June 7.

Tags: Emily Ritter Henlopen Conference Olympics Rider University Sports Sussex Tech Sussex Tech Ravens Track & Field wboc sports

About Matt Pencek

Matt joined WBOC in October 2015 as a Sports Broadcast Journalist. He is a native of Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. Matt graduated from Penn State where he received a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He started his broadcast career as the news/sports director of WEMR AM 1460 in his hometown of Tunkhannock. Matt held that same position for WALI/WROG radio in Cumberland, MD. His first television position was as the weekend sports anchor at WHAG-TV in Hagerstown, MD where he eventually became the Sports Director. Matt then moved to Florence, SC to become a sports reporter/anchor for WPDE-TV In 2011 along with his brother David, Matt co-authored The Great Book of Penn State Sports Lists. From 2012 – 2015 he was the lead radio play-by-play voice for The Friday Night High School Football Game of the Week for DE FOX Sports 1290 in Wilmington, DE. The last 2 years at the radio station Matt was the studio host during the University of Delaware Football radio broadcasts. He has also called the action for the both the Blue Hens men’s and women’s basketball teams. Outside of work, Matt is married to his wife Shannon and has two sons; Jack and Connor. E-mail Matt Pencek at mpencek@wboc.com and follow him on Twitter @mattpencek_wboc. Check out all stories by Matt.