READING, Pa. – Widener men's indoor track and field come away with a third place at the 2023 MAC Indoor Championships hosted by Alvernia.
 
The Pride scored 100 team points to register a third place out of 16 teams at the Flynn Plex.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED AT THE PLEX
 
David Millar came home with a third place in the 5000-meter run to grab six individual points. Millar ran a 15:07.88 which set his new personal best and earned a AARTFC qualification time.
 
The quartet of Dereck Darden, Brion McNear, Ben Miller, and Samuel Knowles earn their first gold medal in the 4x200 relay. The four ran in a 1:31.76 which just cracks into the top 10 in Widener's All Time Top 10 list. From the relay, the Pride earned 10 points.
 
Alex Kristeller threw a 19.42-meter weight throw to earn a gold medal. Kristeller remains second in the nation after his Jan 28 performance. His 19.42 performance will also earn him a AARTFC qualification. Teammate Alden Littlefield finish three meters behind with a 16.10-meter throw which earned him a bronze medal. Justin Adams finished just outside the medal list with his 16.04-meter throw. In the weight throw, the Pride walked away with 26 total team points across the five top 10 performances.
 
A few events later, Millar ran a 4:20.83 mile run to place fourth and grab five points. Thomas Flear nabbed one point after his 4:23.14 run. Both men ran AARTFC qualifications and earned the Pride six points.
 
Knowles earned his second gold medal in the 400-meter with a 49.45. Knowles' time earned him an AARTFC qualification and currently ranks him fourth in Widener's All Time Top 10 list.
 
In the 200-meter dash, Knowles topped his championships with another gold. Knowles ran a 22.25 to earn 10 points which just missed his best. In the national rankings, he current sits at 41^st.
 
Senior Joseph Cardie finished seventh in the 3000-meter run. Cardie ran a 8:49.17 to earn two points in team standings.
 
In the 4x800 relay, the team of Thomas Plunkett, Miller, Josh Schreiner, and Millar finished fourth in a time of 8:12.92. The four earned five team points.
 
Littlefield saw his gold medal and a NCAA qualification in the shot put after a dominating performance with a 16.86-meter throw. Littlefield took over Mike Recla's 16.64-meter throw from 2014 in Widener's All Time Top 10 list. After Littlefield's performance, he ranks fourth in national standings. Kristeller grabbed a podium spot with a fourth and a 14.58-meter mark. David Waters rounded out Widener's points with a new personal best. Waters threw a 15.37-meter throw to earn him seventh. The three earned the Pride 17 team points.
 
First year Jacob Grossman earned his first points of the championships in the high jump. Grossman jumped a 1.83-meter mark which set his personal best and earned the team four points.
 
After two days of racing, Widener placed third with 100 team points. Taking first was Messiah with 107.5 and Lebanon Valley taking second with 103.5.
 
UP NEXT
Widener looks to continue racing at the AARTFC Championships on Friday, March 3^rd and Saturday, March 4^th.