Novacek, Abfall Continue Record-Breaking Season

Panthers post more wins at last chance meet

Naperville, Ill. – Kate Novacek and Caleb Abfall each shattered a school record to lead the Milwaukee track & field team in a very strong showing at the Dr. Keeler Invitational Friday from North Central College.

In all, the Panthers won three of its nine events and finished runner-up another three times as part of the record-setting day.

Novacek got things going early in the women's 400m. Fresh off winning her third-straight Horizon League championship in the event, the junior broke the school record in a big way, crossing the line at 54.53 for the top spot out of the 32-person field.

Abfall then doubled up the school records on the night by breaking his own in the 3000m steeplechase. Just one week after breaking the event at last weekend's league championships, the junior one-upped himself by becoming the first Panther to break nine minutes in the event after crossing the finish line at 8:59.34. That time moves Abfall into 39^th in the NCAA West Region.

As a team, Milwaukee has now broken an incredible 14 school records on the year, including eight so far this outdoor season.

Marquis Johnson completed the sweep of the 400m on the night with a win on the men's side. The senior clocked in at 47.18, over a full second ahead of the next finisher in the field of 41. Classmate Davontae Johnson also did well, taking second in his heat and sixth in the talented field with a solid time of 49.18.

D. Johnson kept things rolling in the 200m with a blazing time of 21.76 for second place out of the field of 37. Aaron Parks also did well, taking ninth in the event in 22.55. Parks also had a strong showing in the 100m with a time of 11.13 seconds.

Freshman Noah Conrad added yet another win for the Black & Gold on the night. The freshman topped the field in javelin with a strong throw of 56.78m (186-3) – already the sixth time he has gone past 180 feet in just his first collegiate season.

Another school record holder put together another great outing Friday. One week after breaking the 100m hurdle record, Melissa Kirchoff crossed the line in 14.22. That was good for second overall on the day in the talented field of 35.

Alize Souter finished fifth in triple jump with a solid leap of 11.22m (36-9 ¾).

Dana Clausen rounded out the results with a season-best time in the 800m of 2:15.84 for 13^th out of 57 on the day.

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Players Mentioned

Dana Clausen: Senior; Middle Distance

Caleb Abfall: Junior; Distance

Davontae Johnson: Senior; Sprints

Marquis Johnson: Senior; Sprints

Melissa Kirchoff: Sophomore; Hurdles/Jumps

Kate Novacek: Junior; Sprints

Alize Souter: Sophomore; Jumps

Noah Conrad: Freshman; Javelin/Combined

Aaron Parks: Freshman; Sprints

Players Mentioned

Dana Clausen
: Senior; Middle Distance

Caleb Abfall
: Junior; Distance

Davontae Johnson
: Senior; Sprints

Marquis Johnson
: Senior; Sprints

Melissa Kirchoff
: Sophomore; Hurdles/Jumps

Kate Novacek
: Junior; Sprints

Alize Souter
: Sophomore; Jumps

Noah Conrad
: Freshman; Javelin/Combined

Aaron Parks
: Freshman; Sprints