MILWAUKEE – Anna Szepieniec has been crowned the 2026 Alfreeda Goff Women's Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year, announced by the Horizon League Thursday.
 
Szepieniec becomes the fifth Milwaukee women's track & field athlete to earn the honor since the award's introduction in 2003. The last Panther to receive the award was Natalie Block in 2024, preceded by Melissa Kirchoff (2017), Holly Nearman (2008), and Tenia Fisher (2006).
 
Coming off her 2026 Alfreeda Goff Women's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year honor, the junior continued her dominance across multiple events this spring. At Louisville's Jim Freeman/Clark Wood Open, Szepieniec shattered the school record in the long jump with a mark of 6.35 meters, surpassing the previous record of 6.13 meters set by Samia Taylor in 2013. Her jump currently ranks tied for 23rd on the NCAA qualifying list.
 
She has continued to etch her name into the Panther record books, ranking first in the long jump (6.35m), third in the 200-meter dash (24.11), and third in the 100-meter hurdles (13.67) this season. She also holds top-10 marks in the heptathlon (first) and triple jump (10th) from previous campaigns.
 
At the conference level, Szepieniec has established herself among the league's elite, ranking first in both the long jump and heptathlon, second in the 200-meter dash and triple jump, and fourth in the 100-meter hurdles. She also earned Horizon League Women's Field Athlete of the Week honors twice during her junior season.