TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – On the first day of the John Gartland Invitational, the Milwaukee men's and women's track and field teams opened with impressive performances in the women's pentathlon and men's heptathlon.
 
Natalie Block posted a new school record in the pentathlon, tallying a score of 3763. The mark broke Shelby Schaal's score of 3756, which was set in 2012. Block opened the pentathlon with a time of 8.56 in the 60-meter hurdles and placed first in the high jump (1.56m), long jump (5.65m), and 800-meter run (2:21.85).
 
Kortnie Volk finished second with a score of 3087 and was followed closely by Aubrie Gorski who tallied 2935.
 
"I thought the multis had an exceptional day," head coach Andrew Basler said. "Natalie Block had another great day, breaking the school record in the pentathlon held by Shelby Schaal. Aubrie Gorski and Kortnie Volk they had huge PRs in the scoring, totaling 300 to 400 more points than last year, and took some huge steps forward so I was proud of them."
 
In the men's heptathlon, Austin Wallace put together a strong showing after the first four events. Wallace opened with a 7.09 time in the 60-meter dash and continued with a 7.56m in the long jump. The redshirt junior also posted a 13.82 mark in the shot put and a 1.92m leap in the high jump.
 
"We came into this weekend with Austin Wallace really trying for a mark that would get him into the indoor championships and he is only about 60 points off from where we need him to be after day one," Basler said. "I think with a big day two tomorrow he could set himself up to hit a score in the heptathlon that could punch his ticket to indoor nationals."
 
The heptathlon concludes tomorrow with the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault, and 1000-meter run.
 
The Panthers will start day two of the John Gartland Invite tomorrow at 9 a.m.