COLLEGEVILLE — Krista Snyder simply can’t do one thing at a time.

The Moniteau graduate and junior at Ursinus College is a multi-tasker, from her eclectic educational pursuits of neuroscience and philosophy to her track and field exploits for the Grizzly Bears.

“I enjoy being busy,” Snyder said.

She also enjoys taking the road less traveled.

Snyder was a standout in basketball and track and field at Moniteau, and was even a member of the girls golf team at the school.

On the track, she participated in a wide array of events, from the sprints to the mid-distances to the jumps and throws.

That versatility has paid off for Snyder at Ursinus, where she set the Grizzly Bears’ record in the heptathlon with 3,879 points at the Centennial Conference Track and Field Championships May 2.

During the heptathlon, which consists of seven events — the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin and 800-meter run — she broke the school record in the long jump at 17 feet, 3½ inches.

That record had stood at Ursinus since 1990.

“It was amazing,” Snyder said. “I set a lot of personal bests at that meet. It really gives me something to build on for next year.”

Snyder hadn’t had much to build on the previous two seasons because of chronic back issues.

Every time she felt like she was ready to take a step forward, the muscles in her balky back would seize and stunt her development.

“Honestly, it was very frustrating,” Snyder said. “It’s been very frustrating dealing with this. I feel like I never was able to perform up to my potential my whole time here.”

Until her breakout junior season.

She spent the offseason with a physical therapist to strengthen her back, which had been a problem for her dating all the way back to high school.

It worked. Snyder stayed healthy the entire season for the first time in her career.

“I made it through this season without anything happening and I had a great year,” Snyder said. “I’m so happy. I never thought that would happen. Next year I really want to get a bid to nationals.”

First-year Ursinus track and field coach Carl Blickle said Snyder was a natural in the heptathlon because of her high school background competing in many different events.

“It was something I knew I could be good at,” Snyder said. “I did a lot of the events in high school.”

She didn’t hurdle or throw the shot put at Moniteau, however.

And those two events within the heptathlon are still her most difficult to date, she said.

“I feel like I can improve in all the events, but the hurdles is a big one for me,” Snyder said. “The coaches who were brought in this year really helped me. I cut a lot of time thanks to them and I feel like I can cut a lot more.”

Her biggest challenge, though, may be making up her mind on what major to pursue and what major to drop.

If Snyder had her druthers, she would do both.

“I took all of my requirements for pre-med, but I’m still not sure if I want to go to medical school,” Snyder said. “I’m still figuring it out. I managed to find a way to blend both my majors in a summer neuroscience ethics project, but I’m struggling to decide what to do.”

On the track, though, she is no longer struggling.

“I enjoy running track a lot,” Snyder said. “It calms down my active mind.”