Feb. 11, 2013

EASTON, Pa. – Junior Elise Buffinton’s Patriot League-best pole vault of 12’9 ½” earned her Patriot League Female Field Athlete of the Week honors, the League announced Monday. The Lewisburg, Pa. native earns her first weekly award after being named honorable mention three of the first four weeks of the season.

“Elise has had an outstanding indoor season and has jumped very consistently,” assistant coach Michele Curcio said, “She works extremely hard every day at practice to better herself technically and has really become a student of the event.“

Buffinton finished in first place at the Lafayette-Rider Winter Games on Friday. Her jump of 12’9 ½” broke her own Lafayette record and the mark is ranked in the top five on the ECAC performance list. The vault is also nearly a foot better than any other Patriot League competitor all season.

The Leopards will travel to West Point, N.Y. for the Patriot League Championships starting Feb. 15 at 12 p.m.