READING, Pa. – The Widener men's indoor track and field team captured the team championship at the 2022 MAC Championships on Friday and Saturday at The Plex at Alvernia University.
 
The Pride totaled 147 points to claim their 17th MAC title in program history and first one since 2017, when they had won the last of eight straight championships. They finished 14 points ahead of Messiah in the team standings.

In addition, first-year sprinter Samuel Knowles was selected as the Rookie of the Year and head coach Vince Touey was named the Coach of the Year.

The Pride came out on top at this year's championship meet after receiving 13 top-three finishes.

Leading the way were Knowles, Alex Kristeller, and Valiant McKee, who each came away with a gold medal
. 
Knowles won the 400-meter dash with a time of 50.47 seconds. The Ephrata, Pa. native's time was good for the seventh-best in school history. 

Kristeller claimed his gold in the weight throw with a heave of 18.74 meters (61 feet, 5 ¾ inches). The Kingston, Pa. native came 0.22 of a meter away from setting the meet record, held by Widener alum Tyler Williams (18.95 back in 2015).

McKee won the high jump with a leap of 2.01 meters (6 feet, 7 inches). The Coatesville, Pa. native was 0.07 of a meter away from surpassing both his meet record and MAC overall record of 2.07 meters in the event. 

Along with the three winners, the Pride saw Alden Littlefield, Joseph Cardie, Michael John, David Millar, the distance medley relay team, and the 4x200 relay team each place second. 

Littlefield finished second in the shot put with a throw of 15.71 meters (51-6.5). Littlefield's heave was good for second all-time in school history.

Cardie finished as the runner-up in the mile run and in the 3,000. Cardie crossed the finish line in the mile in 4:22.10 and clocked a time of 8:46.67 in the 3,000.

John took second in the 400 behind Knowles in 50.74. Millar secured his second-place finish in the 800 after clocking a 1:58.68. 

The DMR team of Cardie, Millar. Andrew Crosby and Ryan Galiczynski combined for a time of 10:30.82, which was good for the 10th-fastest time in school history.

The 4x200 relay squad of John, Knowles, Omaji Odey, and Salekri Sayeh, Jr. ran a total time of 1:32.37 to round out the Pride's runner-up finishers.

The Blue and Gold also received third-place finishes from Pat Carolan, Bryce Ortiz and the 4x400 relay team.

Carolan came away with a bronze in the mile run in 4:24.75. Ortiz earned his bronze in the high jump after clearing 1.92 meters (6-3.5).

The 4x400 relay of Galiczynski, John, Knowles, and Josh Schreiner combined for a time of 3:28.28.