NAPERVILLE, ILL. 3/9/13 – After watching teammate Janel Haggerty capture the national championship in the pentathlon on Friday night,  Ryan Widzgowski and Maggie Fitter made sure they wouldn't  leave the national meet empty handed, racing to All-American honors at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships at North Central College in Naperville, Ill. on Saturday.

"It's always nice when everyone get to come home with a trophy," said Fitter, a senior from Branford, Conn. 

Widzgowski, who was making his first trip to the nationals, placed second in the mile with a personal best time of 4:07.86.  A half hour later, Fitter took to the track and finished fourth in the 800-meter race with a time of 2:13.01. 

"I was surprised I finished so high," said Widzgowski, a junior from Camden, Maine.  "It was my first time at the championships and all I wanted to do was get top eight, beat two runners, so I can I stand on the podium with a trophy"

Widzgowski exceeded his own expectations.  Staying in contact with the lead pack, Widzgowski made his move at the midway point of the race.  "All of sudden I looked up and there was three laps to go," he said.  "I started thinking I was back in Keene, flying down Baker Street.  I didn't even realize the race was over." 

"Ryan ran a perfect race.  It went exactly as we planned it," said KSC Coach Peter Thomas. "All he had to do was get in line and follow the pace.  When it was time for him to go around people he did that."

The favorite, Dan Sullivan, a junior from Wisconsin-Stevens Point won the r ace with a time of 4:07.03.  Both Widzgowski and Sullivan set facility and Division III meet records with their time.  Widzgowski's mile time was the second fastest at Keene State.  Mark Miller, a four-time national champ at KSC, holds the record with a time of 4:06.02.

Fitter said it was big relief and a lot pressure taken off her shoulders knowing everyone in the eight-runner 800 final was going to the podium.  "It went out a little slower than I expected, "she said.  Everyone was tired from running in the prelims the night before.  I just tied to see what I could do. " 

Finding herself back in the pack, Fitter was eventually able to move up a several spots.  "It couldn't have gone any better," she said.  "The girls who finished ahead of me were great. They were on their own level, so I was just happy to run with them."   

Tara Clemens, a senior from Illinois Wesleyan won the race in a facility record time of 2:09.88.

It was the second All-America for Fitter who also earned the honor as a member of Keene State's DMR team as a sophomore.  "It was nice winning All-America as a team in the DMR, but getting an individual All-America was a big accomplishment," said Fitter.  "I was injured last indoor season, so getting here was the big goal and I was just happy the way the season ended up." 

With the addition of Haggerty, Widzgowski and Fitter, the list of Keene State indoor track All-America now stands at 67.