MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee track & field teams are gearing up for a pair of meets this week, with Grand Valley State's Big Meet Friday and DePaul's Blue Demon Alumni Classic Feb. 13.
Big Meet Friday, held in the Kelly Family Sports Center in Allendale, Mich., will kick off at 7:30 a.m., while the Blue Demon Alumni Classic will take place in the Gately Indoor Track in Chicago, Ill., at 12:00 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The Panthers had another dual-meet week, with 14 athletes participating in the Iowa State Classic, while others traveled to La Crosse for the Mark Guthrie Legacy Invitational.
Anna Szepieniec continued her junior season success at the meet hosted by Iowa State. She finished second in the 200-meter dash with her 24.69 outing and was runner-up in the 60-meter hurdles with a personal-best effort of 8.45. Szepieniec currently sits second in the Panther record books for the 60-meter hurdles.
Katie Burns also shined in Ames, Iowa, finishing second in the 400-meter dash (55.62) which ranks her third in the program record books for the event. She also qualified for the 200-meter dash finals, where she turned in an eighth-place effort (7.82).
Victoria Spagnola and Lead Handshoe both secured spots in the Panther Top 10 records as well, with Spagnola climbing to seventh in the 60-meter hurdles (8.68) and Handshoe securing eighth in the 400-meter dash (56.55).
For the men,
Ty Bauschelt added on to his impressive freshman-season resume. Earning Horizon League Runner of the Week honors for the first time in his young Panther career, Bauschelt recorded fourth-place performances in the 200-meter dash (22.08) and the high jump (1.98 meters).
At the meet in La Crosse, Wis., two Black & Gold jumpers landed in the top-five of the triple jump.
Kyril Griffin finished third, clearing 14.06 meters and earning Horizon League Field Athlete of the Week, and
Bishop Bufford followed in fourth with his 13.81-meter outing.
PANTHER TOP 10
The Panthers have secured 13 spots in the Panther Top 10 record books this indoor season.
-200m –
Anna Szepieniec – 24.68 (3
rd)
-200m –
Katie Burns – 24.87 (6
th)
-400m –
Katie Burns – 55.62 (3rd)
-400m –
Leah Handshoe – 56.55 (8
th)
-600m –
Lucas Picco - 1:19.81 (5
th)
-60m Hurdles –
Anna Szepieniec – 8.45 (2
nd)
-60m Hurdles –
Victoria Spagnola – 8.68 (7
th)
-4x400 Relay – Evtimov, Thimmesch, Burns, Handshoe – 3:48.06 (1
st)
-High Jump –
Kallie Volk – 1.70m (T-5
th)
-Pole Vault –
Emma Johnson – 3.75m (8
th)
-Long Jump –
Anna Szepieniec – 6.30m (1
st)
-Long Jump –
Anthony Buford – 7.29m (5
th)
-Weight Throw –
Josh Cygan – 17.45m (6
th)
SOARING SZEPIENIEC
Anna Szepieniec shattered the Panther program record in the long jump at the 13th annual Tierney Classic. Her leap of 6.30 meters bested the previous record of 6.06 meters set by Samia Taylor in 2013. Szepieniec has earned Horizon League Women's Field Athlete of the Week twice for her high jump efforts, and she currently ranks first in the event across the Horizon League.
A SEASON THAT BURNS BRIGHT
Katie Burns has turned it up a notch during senior campaign. Burns currently ranks in the Horizon League top ten for the 400-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and the 4x400 relay.
THE FANTASTIC FOUR
The team of
Victoria Evtimov,
Taylor Thimmesch,
Katie Burns, and
Leah Handshoe broke the 4x400 relay program record at Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational with their 3:48.06 effort, besting the previous record of 3:48.88 set in 2015 by A. Okonkwo, Clausen, Garner, and Novacek.
UP NEXT
Milwaukee will compete in Grand Valley State's Big Meet Friday and DePaul's Blue Demon Alumni Classic Feb. 13. The meet in Allendale, Mich., will begin at 7:30 a.m. while the meet in Chicago, Ill., will kick off at 12:00 p.m.
