WHITEWATER, Wis.- The Milwaukee track & field teams were in action for the first of two meets this week at UW-Whitewater's Drake Alternative on Thursday.
 
The Panthers were dominant in the 400m hurdles, with Natalie Block cruising to the victory at 58.46, and Anna Szepieniec finishing runner-up at 1:03.41.
 
Kallie Volk and Jane Kautz qualified for the finals in the 100m hurdles, and Volk crossed the finish line in a career-best 14.68 to pull out the win. Kautz had the best race of her season with a time of 15.83 to place fifth.
 
Volk added a third-place showing in the high jump, clearing 1.62m. She was joined in the event by Szepieniec, Alexandria Simmons, and Macy Woodward who all hit jumps of 1.57m
 
Taylor Thimmesch earned a third top finish for Milwaukee, with a 400m dash time of 58.45. She followed that up in the 200m dash by taking fourth place after notching a time of 25.67.
 
In the pole vault, Noah Gilbertsen had his best performance of the outdoor season when he cleared 4.32m to take third place.
 
Tim Maidment led the men's squad in the long jump with a leap of 6.52m to slot him third in the event. Alexander Maggit joined Maidment, and hit a jump of 6.35m for a seventh-place finish.
 
On the track, Wade Duffek competed in the 800m run finishing the race in a season-best 1:59.45. Earning another season best in the 400m dash, Dylan Longworth made his way around the track in 51.80.
 
In the 200m dash, Jackson Statz (22.25), and Anthony Kessler (22.45) represented the Black & Gold, with Kessler running his best time of the season in the race.
 
Rounding out action on the day was the 5000m run, Nathan Powley was the first Milwaukee finisher in fourth place with a time of 15:37.84. Powley was followed by Sam Blascyk (16:35.05), and Will Perez (17:00.56).
 
UP NEXT
 
The Panthers will split for two more meets next weekend with Kentucky's Jim Green Invitational from May 2-3 at Shivley Track & Field Stadium in Lexington, Ky. Wisconsin's Badger Challenge will be taking place May 2 at 1:00 p.m. at McClimon Track Complex in Madison.
 
The weekend will be the last competition the teams see before the Horizon League Championships Scheduled for May 9-11 at Farmers National Bank Field in Youngstown, Ohio.