YOUNGSTOWN – The Milwaukee women's track & field team were crowned as 2024 Horizon League Champions today, and the men's team finished as the runners-up, as both teams competed at the Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Championships in Youngstown, Ohio.
 
Milwaukee racked up the awards at the championship meet as five Panthers earned recognition, including head coach Andrew Basler. Basler was named the Horizon League Women's Track & Field Coach of the Year.
 
Anna Szepieniec was named the Horizon League Women's Freshman Field Athlete of the Year, and Liam Richards was named the Horizon League Men's Freshman Field Athlete of the Year.
 
Natalie Block and Anelise Egge were both named as the Women's Championship Outstanding Performer, sharing the honor with Purdue Fort Wayne's Madison King.
 
"To accomplish something like this is a full team effort," head coach Andrew Basler said. "First, all the props to our current student-athletes who embraced the vision that I brought to Milwaukee six years ago. But also, a big thanks to the past alumni who laid the groundwork to get us to this point."
 
"Secondly, thanks to my awesome staff of coaches. They coach and mentor our athletes the right way and it shows with our program's culture. Big thanks to all the support staff who help these student-athletes daily, from academic staff to strength & conditioning staff, athletic training staff, and sports psychology staff."
 
"Thanks to the leadership at Milwaukee… our Athletic Director Amanda Braun and sport supervisor Cathy Rossi… They are always open to finding ways to help our student-athletes get this championship experience. Lastly, a big thanks goes to the families of our coaching staff. I know they get the short end of the stick during the season, but their support is so appreciated."
 
Egge lowered her own program-record mile time, winning the event and crossing the line in 4:50.54. Eileen Tocco joined Egge in the race, placing seventh with a time of 5:05.57.
 
Egge also won the women's 800m run in 2:13.17, the second best time in program history. Egge was joined in the 800m race by Aubrey Anderson and Rachel Helm, who finished sixth and seventh with times of 2:18.80 and 2:19.54, respectively.
 
Tabitha Wechlo broke the MKE shot put record for the second time this season, finishing in second place with a throw of 14.74m (48'4.5"). Joining Wechlo in the event was Samantha Satterfield, who placed sixth at 13.22m (43'4.5").
 
Richards, Tony Bretall, and Jack Misky swept the men's heptathlon, as one of the three Panthers won all but one event. Richards' score of 4833 puts him at fifth all time in program history. Bretall scored 4577, and Misky scored 4393.
 
Block and Kynnedi Malone claimed the top two spots in the women's 60m hurdles, as Block set a new facility record with a time of 8.34 seconds. Malone lowered her MKE #2 PR for the second day in a row, finishing in 8.53. Cloey Fare finished seventh in the event with a time of 8.77.
 
Block also won the 400m dash, winning with a time of 55.08 seconds. Leah Handshoe and Katie Burns finished third and fourth in 56.62 and 56.66 respectively, earning them the seventh and eighth best times in program history.
 
Anthony Campbell claimed the top spot in the men's high jump with a height of 2.08m (6'9.75"). Caden Thomas also recorded points in the event, finishing in a three-way tie for sixth at 1.96m (6'5").
 
Dominique Thomas topped the field in the women's 60m dash, winning with a time of 7.44 seconds. In the 200m dash, Thomas finished second with a time of 24.30 seconds, and was joined by Malone in eighth with a 25.30 mark.
 
"The women knew what was at stake coming into the weekend," Basler commented. "Their focus and energy did not waver. The points in women's high jump, shot put, and triple jump to start the day were critical to set the tone for the running events."
 
The men's 4x400m relay team of Dane Nelson, Jackson Statz, Zac Schmidt, and Caleb Henry won with a time of 3:15.85, which puts them at fourth all-time in Milwaukee history.
 
Chris Hudnall took second in the men's 60m hurdles, finishing with a season-best time of 8.12 seconds. Dane Nelson finished fourth in 8.17, Liam Richards took fifth in 8.32, and Ethan Criter grabbed eighth in 8.91.
 
"The men continue to out-perform our championship projections every year," Basler added. "I'm proud of them for securing the runner-up, but I know they are hungrier than ever to match the women's feat. We will continue to find ways within our process to close the gap with Youngstown."
 
Olivia VanZeeland took third in the women's high jump, clearing 1.66m(5'5.25"). Macy Woodward followed closely behind in fourth with a height of 1.61m (5'3.25").
 
Morgan Pilate led a quartet of Panthers in the women's triple jump by finishing third with a distance of 12.16m (39'10.75"). Adaline Powell grabbed fifth at 11.98m (39'3.75"), while Szepieniec and Olivia Busch finished seventh and eighth.
 
Caleb Henry placed third in the men's 400m with a time of 48.86, and was joined by Zac Schmidt in seventh with a time of 49.22.
 
Golden Cotton and EJ Kruse finished fourth and seventh in the men's 60m dash with times of 6.80 and 7.06 seconds, and Carter Eckhoff earned points in the men's mile run, finishing seventh in 4:13.25.
 
Cotton also finished fourth in the 200m dash with a time of 21.75 seconds, and was joined by Nelson in eighth with a time of 22.58.
 
The women's 4x400m relay team of Katie Burns, Brooke Crosby, Kortnie Volk, and Leah Handshoe finished in fourth with a time of 3:55.74.
 
Lucas Picco and Nate Griepentrog finished fifth and seventh in the men's 800m, recording times of 1:55.31 and 2:02.07.
 
"More important than the hardware is the way this team continues to come together stronger each year," Basler finished. "The positive support and energy they have for each other this weekend was at an all-time high. It really is what makes these championship experiences that much better."
 
The Milwaukee women recorded 171 points as a team to win the championship, while the men scored 142.5, falling only to Youngstown State's 275.
 
The conference championship meet wraps up indoor season for the team as a whole, though qualifying individuals may still compete at the NCAA Championships in Boston. Outdoor season begins March 28^th.