CHICAGO, Ill. – The Milwaukee women's track & field team opened its season at the Blue Demon Holiday Invitational hosted by DePaul University on Friday.
 
"I thought it was a good season opener for us" head coach Andrew Basler stated. "We didn't bring a full squad, but I felt that the athletes we brought really stepped up and started us off on a strong foot.
 
Anna Szepieniec led the way for the Panthers, securing victories in three events on the day. Szepieniec took home first-place in the 60-meter hurdles (8.53) and secured a new personal best in the prelims with a time of 8.49. She also finished at the top of the podium in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.68, the third best time in program history, and in the long jump (5.76m).
 
The Black & Gold claimed the top two spots in the 400-meter dash, with Leah Handshoe taking first with a time of (56.88), and Katie Burns following closely behind, crossing the finish line in 56.91. Taylor Thimmesch added a fourth-place finish in the event as well, registering a time of 57.78
 
Also finding the top of the podium was Olivia VanZeeland who cleared 1.72m in the high jump.
 
Success in the high jump continued for Milwaukee with Kallie Volk taking second, soaring over 1.66m.
 
"Our women's 400 group performed really well," added Basler. "We had some seniors in the high jump that showed another strong event for us with VanZeeland taking some attempts at school records. Szepieniec had an awesome start to her junior campaign with a top third best 200 in school history, second best in the 60m hurdles and a really good long jump performance from short approach."
 
In her first meet as a Panther, freshman Kara Meeteer secured a second-place finish in the 300-meter dash, clocking a time of 42.90.
 
"Overall, very happy with how things went. We have a good sense of where we are at and a good sense of what we have to work on going forward," concluded Basler.