By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- She began the Bridgewater State University women's outdoor track & field season in late March with some extra motivation.

Samantha Richner of Hanson was determined to qualify for the NCAA Division 3 Championships in the high jump after twice being just edged out in her bid for a spot in the national meet.

During her freshman outdoor season in 2014 as well as the indoor season this past winter, Richner missed the cut for the NCAAs by losing out on the final spot both times on tiebreakers.

This spring, Richner had her sights squarely set on being on the list of competitors for the national championships in Waverly, Iowa.

"It was,'' said the BSU junior, "very frustrating. It pushed me further. I kind of told myself I had no option but to go in the spring because I'm not going to let that happen again.''

The drive has taken Richner to new heights this season as she has broken the school record in the high jump, a mark originally established in 1980, has won the New England Division 3 championship and earned another Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference title.

Her best jump of 5-6.5 has Richner tied for ninth place in the nation, and the top 22 women will qualify for the NCAAs May 26-28. Richner is just about a lock to make her first appearance in the nationals.

"I'm looking forward to it,'' said Richner, an Enterprise All-Scholastic in track and volleyball at W-H. "It'll be good to see different jumpers. The competition will be elevated. I hope to do really well.''

Richner has been steadily improving since arriving at BSU, winning the indoor and outdoor MASCAC high jump championships three years in a row.

She tied the outdoor record of 5-6, set by Judy Smith in 1980, as a freshman, then claimed the mark for herself (5-6.5) at the Jerry Gravel Classic in Westfield this spring. Richner jumped the same height to win the New England Division 3 championship in Springfield last weekend.

"I prepared as much as I could,'' said Richner. "I would practice a lot all week and lift. I love it. I have to do it if I want to be good. It's worth it.

"This past year, I've worked a lot with (assistant coach Ed Delgado, the former BSU and Brockton High coach). I've improved so much. I'm more confident, more consistent and just all-around better. His coaching has keyed all of it.''

Richner got acquainted with the high jump while in middle school in Hanson and became one of the best in her event in the state while at Whitman-Hanson, finishing second in Massachusetts.

"It kind of came naturally,'' said Richner. "When I tried it, I just had a knack for it. I think my height (5-foot-10) helps a lot. I train hard for it. It's just comfortable for me. It's something you have to be able to naturally do it. It's hard to learn it.''

In addition to owning the BSU indoor and outdoor high jump records, Richner set the school mark in the pentathlon (3,195 points) and was part of the 4x100 relay team that established a program record of 49.58 seconds.

"She's just an all-around athlete,'' said BSU head coach Amy Delgado. "We threw her in the pentathlon because it's something she really wanted to do and she broke the school record in that. It's pretty unbelievable.

"Whatever we ask her to do, she just does it. She doesn't question anything. She gets out there and does whatever she can do. She's always our go-to if we ever need an athlete to do another event.''

Richner, who is an elementary education major, took part in three pentathlons during the winter and finished fourth (behind three Division 1 competitors) at the Holy Cross Invitational last month.

She is hoping to do more training before next season in order to compete in more multi-events as a senior.

"That was a lot of fun,'' said Richner. "I had to learn a lot of events I never did before .I think I did well with it.''

For now, Richner is concentrating on the high jump and a first trip to the NCAAs at the end of the month.

She has been scoring points since arriving at BSU in 2013, and now Richner is bound for the national stage.

"I thought I was capable of it,'' said Richner. "But it's just a matter of the timing and having everything click and jumping well when I need to.''