MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee track & field team will compete in UW-La Crosse's Ashton May Invitational held at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex Friday. The meet in La Crosse, Wis., will begin with the field events at 12:00 p.m., followed by the running events at 1:30 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Panthers opened their season last weekend with a pair of meets. Select athletes competed at NC State's Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C. while other athletes made the trip to Normal, Ill., for Illinois State's Joyce Morton-Kief Invitational.
 
At the Raleigh Relays, Natalie Block started her final season in a Panther uniform on the right foot. She broke her own school record in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 56.27 to finish third. The 2025 Second Team All-American turned in a fifth-place effort in the 100-meter hurdles with her 13.45 outing. Block earned her 16th weekly Horizon League accolade for her performances.
 
Also competing in North Carolina was Anna Szepieniec, who is coming off an incredible indoor campaign. The 2026 Alfreeda Goff Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year ended sixth in the long jump, clearing 5.96 meters. She also competed in the 100-meter hurdles (14.11) and the 200-meter dash (24.92).
 
At the meet hosted by Illinois State, Nolie Anderson took home the discus title in her first outdoor appearance in the Black & Gold. The freshman recorded a 44.97-meter throw in the event, an effort that ranks fifth in program history.
 
For the men, Josh Cygan was honored as the Horizon League Men's Field Athlete of the Week after shining in the hammer throw and discus. He turned in the 10th-best hammer throw outing in school history (52.49 meters) and finished runner-up in the discus throw (52.81 meters).
 
In the 400-meter run, a trio of Panthers recorded new personal bests. Ty Bauschelt was the top Milwaukee finisher in the event, running the sixth-fastest time in program history (47.89). Zac Schmidt followed closely behind, turning in the seventh-best time in Panther history (47.92). Anthony Buford was the third Panther to cross the line, running an impressive 48.69.
 
Currently holding the top spot in the Horizon League for the long jump is Buford, the reigning Horizon League Outdoor Male Freshman of the Year. At the Raleigh Relays, he cracked the top-five in a loaded field with his 7.20-meter leap.
 
PANTHER TOP-10
 
The Panthers have secured six spots in the Panther Top-10 record books this outdoor season.
-400m – Ty Bauschelt – 47.89 (6th)
-400m – Zac Schmidt – 47.92 (7th)
-1500m – Sam Schreiber – 3:52.90 (9th)
-400h – Natalie Block – 56.27 (1st)
-Discus – Nolie Anderson – 44.97m (5th)
-Hammer Throw – Josh Cygan – 52.49m (10th)
 
UP NEXT
 
The Panthers look ahead to a dual-meet weekend, with athletes traveling to Duke for the Duke Invitational Apr. 9-11, while other athletes will compete at the Marquette Invitational Apr. 10-11.