MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee track & field team competed at the Panther Tune-Up held at home in the Klotsche Center Saturday in its final regular season meet before the Horizon League Indoor Championships.
 
"Momentum at the right time of the season can have a major impact," said head coach Andrew Basler. "Across the board today, we gained a ton of momentum as we head to the Horizon League Championships next weekend."
 
Anna Szepieniec continued her dominance in the long jump, winning the event with a new personal-best leap of 6.31 meters. Szepieniec broke her own program record, a record that she previously set in the Klotsche Center this season, and now ranks 35th in all of NCAA Division I in the event.
 
Milwaukee swept the podium in the triple jump, led by Szepieniec's 12.45-meter effort, which ranks fifth in program history. Nevia Levenhagen and Kallie Volk rounded out the podium finishes for the Panthers with personal-best outings, clearing 11.72 meters and 11.54 meters, respectively.
 
"The women had a great day in the sandpit," said Basler. "We waited to open up Kallie and Anna in triple jump and they flexed their potential after taking only a couple of jumps."
 
The Black & Gold finished first and second in the pole vault, highlighted by two Panther top-10 efforts. Hailey Soriaga won the event with her 3.93-meter clearance, turning in the third-best effort in Panther history. Emma Johnson also shined in the event, soaring above 3.83 meters which ranks fourth in the Panther record books.
 
"We got big throws from Mercedes and Claudia in the weight throw," added Basler. "Our women's vaulters had a great day, highlighted by Hailey's personal best."
 
Mercedes Herrera turned in two personal-best efforts on the day, throwing 12.06 meters in the shot put and 15.16 meters in the weight throw.
 
Milwaukee went 1,2 and 3 in the high jump, highlighted by Kallie Volk's 1.70-meter clearance. Volk won the event, while Olivia VanZeeland and Alexandria Simmons came in second (1.70 meters) and third (1.60 meters).
 
On the track, Rachel Helm won the mile run with her career-best 5:01.43 performance. Helm etched her name in the Panther top-10, sitting tenth for the event. Janiyah Taylor was right behind Helm, crossing the line second in a season-best 5:03.88.
 
"Rachel had a big PR in the Mile," said Basler. "She is really dialed in right now and is poised to have a great championships next weekend."
 
Szepieniec took the crown in the 60-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 8.53.
 
In the 60-meter dash, Isabel Roloff tied her career-best time of 7.71 to win the event. Angelica Refinski finished third with her season-best time of 7.84.
 
Ally Schmitz won the 800-meter run in convincing fashion, finishing more than five seconds ahead of the next runner. Schmitz clocked a season-best time of 2:18.41.
 
Lilly Wepking and Lauren Wickus secured the top two spots in the 200-meter dash, registering times of 27.07 and 27.28, respectively.
 
Isabella Switalski rounded out the successful day for the Panthers with a personal-best performance in the 3000-meter run, crossing the line third (10:40.43).
 
"Overall, we have a lot of momentum heading into the championships," concluded Basler. "Both teams will be fighting for hardware, which is the standard we have at Milwaukee."
 
UP NEXT
 
The Panthers prepare for the Horizon League Indoor Championships hosted by Youngstown State in Youngstown, Ohio, Feb. 28-Mar. 1. The action will take place at the Watson and Tressel Training Site.