Edison’s Ritchot Will Attend UC Irvine

Nichole Ritchot, a three-time State finalist at Edison High School, is one of four track and field athletes who have signed letters of intent to attend UC Irvine, the school announced Wednesday.

Ritchot has personal bests of 2 minutes 11.09 seconds in the 800, 4:52 in the 1,600 and 11:08 in the 3,200 and has been one of Orange County’s top high school distance runners for the past three seasons.

Also signed were: Walter Harris, a hurdler from Banning High in Los Angeles and the 1986 L.A. City champion in the 110 high hurdles; Mike Valenzuela, a hurdler and intermediate runner from Cerritos College and St. Paul High, and Fred Simmons, a sprinter from Orange Coast College and Saddleback High. Simmons was fourth in the 200 at the Southern California Community College Championships and fifth at the State meet.