Lycoming College

During her career at Lycoming College, Jennifer (Orchowski) Chaffee left a lasting mark from her first heave of the javelin to her last. She is the second Warrior to earn induction with ties to the women’s track and field program.

The Elkland, Pa., native claimed the MAC title as a freshman with a throw of 122-8. As a sophomore, she made a tremendous leap, qualifying for the NCAA Division III Championships with a school-record throw of 129-9 at the Susquehanna University Invitational and she won her second MAC title with a throw of 129-8. At the NCAA meet in Northfield, Minn., Chaffee, throwing with a borrowed javelin, posted the ninth-best throw in the preliminary round to move into the semifinals and then posted the sixth-best toss, where she fouled on her first two attempts during the rainy day, before unleashing a 127-1 to help her finish seventh and earn All-American honors. 

Chaffee finished second in the javelin to Gladfelter her last two years in school, throwing a 118-7 as a junior before uncorking a school-record toss of 133-0 to finish second as a senior, earning her second trip to the NCAA Championships as a senior, where she finished eighth in her flight at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse.

A multi-talented athlete, Chaffee also played two seasons on the volleyball team and three seasons with the women’s basketball team, posting 64 steals in 1994-95, the fourth-highest total in program history at the time.

There is no doubt the legacy left by Chaffee. The first women’s MAC Track and Field Champion. The only women’s repeat field champion. The only women’s track and field athlete to compete at the NCAA Championships. And of course, the only All-American.

She is married to husband, Chris, and the couple have seven children. She is a supply chain buyer with Mastodon Design.