Pfeufer Takes Seventh at Nationals

Mar 15, 2008

TRIPLE JUMP RESULTS

ADA, Ohio – Allegheny College senior triple jumper Emily Pfeufer (St. Mary’s, Pa./Elk County Catholic) took seventh in the triple jump at the NCAA Indoor National Championships hosted by Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. Pfeufer’s leap of 37-3 was just off of the mark that got her into the competition, while missing fourth place by just 3.75 inches (20 centimeters).

Pfeufer’s All-America honor was her third in the triple jump, as she placed eighth in the event during the 2006 outdoor championships and fourth a season ago during the indoor season. With her two indoor All-America honors; along with classmate Liz Earley (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township), who placed third in the weight throw a day earlier; the pair become the fourth and fifth Gator track athlete to earn two All-America honors, joining Leah Shouey (mile and 5,000 in 2005), Kari Bonomo (high jump in 1995 and 1996) and Chris Dudek (1,500 and 3,000 in 1988).

The senior opened the meet with a leap of 36-feet, 3.75 inches, before following with a jump of 35-9.25. Needing a longer leap to advance to finals, Pfeufer’s final jump of the preliminaries, 36-7.0, was enough to push her into ninth place heading into the final three jumps of the competition.

Once in the Finals, Pfeufer erupted with a leap of 37-3, her top distance of the six jumps, pushing her into fifth place in the field. Her next two jumps, 36-3.75 and 37-1.0 were strong; however, two other competitors passed up Pfeufer, UW-Stout’s Ashlea Peter on the fifth jump and St. Lawrence’s Jessica Venezia on the final jump.

Shannon O’Keeffe of SUNY-Brockport was the individual champion with a leap of 38-4.75, with Washington (Mo.)’s Danielle Wadlington taking second with a leap of 38-4. Kristen Bates (Messiah) and Appie Hirve (Chicago) rounded out the top four with leaps of 38-3.25 and 37-6.75, respectively.

The National meet ends the indoor season for the Gators, as they will take to the outdoor season starting on March 28 and 29 when they will compete at the Western Pennsylvania Championships hosted in Pittsburgh, Pa.

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