Sophomore Abby Schaffer (Easton, PA) broke the pole vault record at the ECAC Indoor Track & Field Championships in Northampton, MA to automatically qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Schaffer won with a leap of 3.85 meters, besting the previous meet record of 3.82 meters set by Kim Marino of Richard Stockton in 2004. This year’s Middle Atlantic Conference indoor pole vault champion goes for the national crown Saturday, March 13 in Greencastle, IN.

She looks to become just the second Widener female in any sport to win an individual NCAA title. Lauren Lucci captured the shot put at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Sophomore Brooke McDonald (Drexel Hill, PA) closed tied for 11th in the pole vault at 3.20 meters.

Senior Nikita Halteman (Hatfield, PA), a two-time MAC indoor champion in the shot put, closed fourth in this event in 12.40 meters. She also finished ninth in the weight throw in 14.82 meters after winning the MAC crown last Saturday.

The Pride closed with 15 points, 21st out of 43 schools.

One week after winning a third consecutive MAC indoor title in the shot put, senior James Green (Lansdale, PA) closed second today at 15.06 meters. Freshman Ryan Chance (Glassboro, NJ), the MAC Rookie of the Year as well as its triple jump and long jump winner, ended fifth in the triple jump at 13.97 meters.

Dennis Conn (Morton, PA) was fifth in the 800-meter run in 1:55.65, fellow sophomore Mike Garrity (Braircliffe, PA) ended 11th in the 1,000-meter run in 2:34.84, senior Jacob Munick (Narbeth, PA) was 15th in the weight throw at 15.57 meters and freshman Nicholas Dolhancryk (East Lansdowne, PA) finished 20th in the long jump at 6.20 meters.

The men’s 4x200-meter relay closed ninth in 1:32.86.

Widener was tied for 17th out of 49 teams with 16 points.