Sun Coast Throws Project Nikki

Nikki Marceus is a junior at Booker High School and an alum of Brookside Middle School in Sarasota, Florida.  Her story is not an unusual one.  She came into track and field, specifically throwing shot and discus as a 7th grader at Brookside Middle School. She will credit throwing as her home away from home. It has opened her eyes to the world beyond her troubles at home. Her goal is to get into college. She will be the first in her family to go to college.  She has qualified for the New Balance Indoor Nationals in NYC in March in the weight throw. Her hope is that college coaches will notice her and she can take that next step to a successful future.

Nikki was the first and only, Sarasota County student-athlete in the history of the county to win a state championship title. In 8th grade she won in the discus and was an inch of winning the shot put as well.  As a recent convert to the hammer and weight throw, Nikki has established herself as a rising star in both events. At the recent USATF-Florida Under 19 Weight Throw Championships, she won with her NBIN qualifying distance of 13.35m. There is more "in her tank" and she is training very hard to break into the Championship standard of 14.50m. With limited training she is closing on the 40m mark in the hammer. Her goals for this season are 45m in the hammer and 15m in the weight.

The purpose of the GoFundMe request is to raise funds for her and other underprivileged throws athletes on the Sun Coast. It will initially fund Nikki's travel expenses, entry fees, and hotel stay for her trip to New York in March.  Any additional funds will go directly to entry fees, USATF membership costs, equipment, clothing and travel expenses for other athletes needing assistance in pursuing their track and field goals.

If anyone would like more information on this project, please contact Coach Gary Dixon.

Thank you all for any help you can be to get Nikki to NYC and help others like her pursue their dreams.