MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee track & field women competed in a pair of meets Friday, with select athletes at NC State's Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C., and others at Illinois State's Joyce Morton-Kief Invitational in Normal, Ill.
 
RALEIGH RELAYS
 
"We had a great start to our outdoor campaign the past two days," said head coach Andrew Basler. "Today, we saw great openers on the track in the women's 100-meter hurdles and the 400-meter run. Competing for the first time since last year's outdoor NCAA Championship, Natalie Block opened her season with a second-place finish in a time that historically qualifies for NCAA West Prelims. Horizon League's Indoor Athlete of the Year, Anna Szepieniec, closed strong in her hurdle race for a great outdoor opener. Tori Spagnola ran her first collegiate 100-meter hurdle race and established a great starting mark. "
 
After an All-American campaign a season ago, Block wasted no time picking up right where she left off. In the 100-meter hurdles, she finished second with a time of 13.45. Szepieniec, the reigning Horizon League Outdoor Championships Field Performer of the Meet, also competed in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing 14th with her 14.11 effort. Victoria Spagnola and Kallie Volk rounded out the Milwaukee athletes in the event, turning in times of 14.52 and 15.30, respectively.
 
"The 400-meter runners had an outstanding opener for the season," added Basler. "Katie and Taylor had their best 400-meter openers of their career."
 
In the 100-meter dash, Katie Burns crossed the line in 12.29. She also competed in the 400-meter dash, where she crossed the line 41st with a 56.22 performance. Burns currently holds the second spot in the Panther record books for the event, running a 54.72 at last season's Fighting Illini Twilight.
 
Also competing in the 400-meter dash was Taylor Thimmesch, who crossed the line in 57.87.
 
In the high jump, Olivia VanZeeland and Volk both cleared 1.62 meters, placing 29th and 45th, respectively.
 
JOYCE MORTON-KIEF INVITATIONAL
 
"At Illinois State, Mercedes was just off her lifetime best in her season opener," said Basler.
 
Mercedes Herrera was the sole Panther to compete in the first day of action, tossing 42.71 meters in the hammer throw.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Panthers will compete in day three of the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N. C., as well as the second day of the Joyce Morton-Kief Invitational in Normal, Ill.