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Champs want more

Crystal River squads look to build on their district title showings today in region meet.

By DAWN REISS
Published April 21, 2005

CRYSTAL RIVER - Spurred by its depth and underclassmen, Crystal River's boys and girls teams captured the Class 2A, District 6 title for the second straight year Friday.

Six athletes won their events: Holly VanSicklen (3,200 meters), Danielle Dixon (1,600), Jessica Rentschlar (pole vault), John Martinuzzi (800), Kevin Spivey (300 hurdles) and Patrick Edwards (triple jump).

The girls 4x400 relay squad of Rentschlar, Yuri Palfhof, Ashton O'Steen and Bridget Broussard and the 4x800 team of Broussard, Dixon, Cassidy Kindred and O'Steen also posted victories.

The boys 4x400 of Martinuzzi, Spivey, Dustin Danziesen and Roger Jones and the 4x800 of Martinuzzi, Danziesen, Jones and Brennon McNally won as well.

"It's only going to get better," Jones said. "We try to hold each other accountable and work as a team."

Under the tutelage of third-year boys coach Tim Byrne and second-year girls coach Ron Cline, the Pirates program has seen a dramatic turnaround. Prior to last year, Crystal River hadn't won a boys or girls championship since the late 1980s. Both coaches attribute part of the change to the increasing interest from the underclassmen.

The Pirates advance to regionals today, with a squad heavily dominated by freshmen and sophomores. Both teams will compete with a lone senior, Jessie Hodges in the 800 for the girls and Brett Miller in 110 hurdles and pole vault.

"They've really pushed me to do better," Hodges said. "I've got to run harder because of them."

VanSicklen said: "It's great to see all the freshmen and sophomores out for the team. Having all the younger runners has improved the team so much."

O'Steen, a sophomore, is among the many underclassmen who likely is to have an impact today. An alternate on last year's state-bound 4x400 relay, O'Steen has become an important contender in her four events - two first-place district relays, second in the 400 and fourth in the triple jump.

At the beginning of the season, O'Steen was competing in the high jump as well. "I was just so exhausted I had to give it up," O'Steen said. "But I wanted to do whatever I could to help the team. Besides, I wanted a challenge." As a freshman, O'Steen was a cheerleader and ran track. "But I realized I wasn't in shape enough," O'Steen said.

So she took up cross country.

"I busted my butt this summer," O'Steen said. "For the first time, I decided to push myself to get in shape for this year. And I took practice seriously. Now I want to go out and win."

- Dawn Reiss can be reached at 352 564-3628 or dreiss@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 21, 2005, 01:05:18]