YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Milwaukee track & field team competed in the first day of the Horizon League Indoor Champions hosted by Youngstown State at the Watson and Tressel Training Site.
 
"Overall, I think we would have liked to see a little bit more happen for us as a team after day one," said head coach Andrew Basler. "But we are not out of it heading into day two which is a great position to be in at championships."
 
The Panther women currently sit second (53 points) in the team standings trailing only Youngstown State (86 points).
 
"Our pentathletes had a great meet," added Basler. "Anna led the way repeating as conference champion. Anna, along with Kallie and Kara, had to compete in the open long jump at the same time they were long jumping for the pentathlon. All three handled that opportunity outstandingly, finishing 1-3-4 in the open long jump. They were joined on the podium in the open long jump with a 2nd place finish by Nevia and an 8th place finish by Lauren."
 
Anna Szepieniec stole the show for the Black & Gold, winning both the pentathlon and long jump titles Saturday. Szepieniec earned 3890 points in the pentathlon, breaking her own Horizon League and Milwaukee records with the effort. Her other victory consisted of a 6.16-meter leap in the long jump which tied the Horizon League record set in 2024.
 
The Panthers dominated the long jump, securing five spots in the finals of the event including Szepieniec's win. Nevia Levenhagen finished runner-up with a 5.85-meter outing, Kallie Volk ended third jumping 5.76 meters, Kara Meeteer secured fourth place with her 5.60-meter clearance, and Lauren Wickus jumped 5.27 meters which was good for eighth.
 
The pentathlon was also highlighted by Volk and Meeteer, who finished third (3718) and fifth (3084), respectively. Volk's performance slots her fourth in the Panther record books for the pentathlon.
 
In the 60-meter hurdle prelims, Szepieniec finished third with her 8.65 effort, qualifying for the finals Sunday. Victoria Spagnola will also race in the event finals after finishing seventh (8.81).
 
"Katie Burns also took care of business today, earning her spot in the finals of the 400-meter and 200-meter," said Basler.
 
Katie Burns turned in two finals-qualifying efforts, crossing the line fourth in the 400-meter dash prelims (56.11) and seventh in the 200-meter dash prelims (24.87). Her 200-meter performance tied her career-best which ranks sixth in the program record books.
 
In the 800-meter prelims, Rachel Helm took the top spot, finishing the event in 2:14.20. Ally Schmitz secured a spot in the top-10 with her 2:19.53 effort.
 
Emma Johnson and Ella Laughbaum were the top two Panther finishers in the pole vault, both clearing 3.62 meters.
 
"I anticipate a crazy amount of energy from our team tomorrow as we close out the indoor championships," concluded Basler.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Panthers will compete in day two of the Horizon League Indoor Championships hosted by Youngstown State Sunday. The first events will kick off at 8 a.m. CT and can be streamed on ESPN+.