Donald Hackworth tops the list of dominant pole vaulters in track & field program history. He began his dominance during his rookie year in 2002, qualifying for the ECAC Outdoor Championships in the pole vault. Every subsequent season, Hackworth returned to the ECAC Championships for both the indoor and outdoor programs in the pole vault, placing in the Top 10 in nearly every appearance.  

Hackworth was an eight-time ECAC qualifier during his four-year storied career. He set the standard in the spring of 2002 with his first chance at the ECAC Outdoor Championships in the pole vault. The success carried over to his sophomore year, when he was named MVP by his teammates after qualifying for his first ECAC Indoor Championship.

In 2004, Hackworth was named indoor and outdoor Most Improved Performer after provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Division III Championships by setting the outdoor record with a height of 15’3” on April 24, 2004. He then placed ninth in the pole vault, clearing 14’8.75” at the ECAC Outdoor Championships, hosted by Williams College. 

In his senior year in 2005, Hackworth cleared a height of 14’ to qualify for the ECAC Indoor Championships once again. He was one of 15 Behrend student-athletes to qualify for the ECAC Outdoor Championships with a season-best height of 14’6”. At the ECAC’s, he took fourth in the pole vault, clearing 14’4”, and led the team to an 18th place finish.