Triple the fun for Schaffer

by Eric Keppeler
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 4, 2006

Niagara-Wheatfield junior Michele Schaffer swears that she never did the triple jump before this year. Falcons track coach Al Pogel is not sure if he believes her after Schaffer – who has also thrives as a distance runner – landed the triple jump job with a solid display of athleticism during preseason tryouts. Schaffer said that the triple jump was something she has always wanted to try. “I had never done a field event before this year, so I wanted to try some of them,” she said. “I had to learn the steps, and then I gave it a shot at practice, and I actually had a decent score compared to the other girls, so I got the spot. Now I find I really enjoy it.” A natural athlete, Schaffer also competes in cross country and basketball – and elements of both of those sports helped her in her move to the triple jump. “I think she’s doing very well,” Pogel said. “Even though she’s trained in cross country, she’s also a basketball player – she’s just an athlete. We were able to teach her the basics indoors, so she got a head start, but with athletic ability - she’s taken it the rest of the way on her own. Her first jump was 30 feet, 2 inches, and I think she’s got even more in her.”

Niagara-Wheatfield’s Michelle Schaffer takes off during the triple jump event at Tuesday’s track and field meet at Lewiston-Porter. (photo by Larry Austin)

She has plenty of experience with timing and jumping, thanks to her basketball career. And her cross country background naturally lends itself to running distance in track, where her main focus has been the 3,000 meters and as a member of the 1,600-meter relay team.

Schaffer enjoys the triple jump and likely will continue to improve as she gains more experience, but the distance races have been her bread and butter for years. She’d still like to get better in those events, as well.

“I’m really trying to improve on my 3,000,” Schaffer said. “I usually like to run longer distances in practice because it helps me for cross country. I really do like cross country, so I’m always trying to work on my distance. I try to get in a lot of miles on Sunday because practices after school are usually a shorter distance than what I’m used to.”

Pogel has found her versatility to be invaluable over the years, also using Schaffer in the 400, 800 and 1,500 meters, as well as on various relay teams – pretty much wherever he needed her.

Whatever the event she might be competing in, he believes that Schaffer has just begun to scratch the surface of her talents and will only continue to get better with time and experience.

“Her time from the first meet of the season to today dropped by 25 seconds,” Pogel said last weekend at the Ken-Ton Invitational. “Some of that has to do with the weather, but a lot of it has to do with her foundation from cross country. Once you can start training outdoors, you’re times are going to drop. She’s just a natural athlete.”