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Kenesie Helps Panthers Write Historic Script
Panther women victorious, men take it to the wire
Feb. 20, 2000
MILWAUKEE - The 2000 UW-Milwaukee women's track and field team continued to flex its depth en route to winning the MCC Indoor Championships with 131 Points on Sunday in the Klotsche Center. Leading the charge was freshman Stephanie Kenesie (Bristol, Wis.) who had the meet of her life Sunday, as she was honored as MCC Field Event Newcomer of the Year for her 2 victories in the jumps. Kenesie set a new MCC Indoor Meet record with a jump of 18-6 ½. She shattered the record set last year by Panther Andrea Thibaudeau (Green Bay, Wis.) (18-2 ¼). Kenesie wasn't finished though, as she led UW-Milwaukee's sweep in the triple jump, winning with a leap of 36-5 ¾. Thibaudeau finished second (35-8) and freshman Kristi Naef (Butler, Wis.) took third (33-10 ¾). Kenesie also took third in the 55-meter hurdles (8.71) and fifth in the 200-meter dash (26.78). Sophomore Liz Pesch (Fond du Lac, Wis.) also took home a pair of titles, winning the 800-meter run (2:15.91) and the 1000-meter run (2:58.80). To go along with her third in the triple jump, Naef set personal bests while placing second in the high jump (5-5 ¾), the long jump (17-11 ¾) and the 55-meter dash (7.20). She was beat by Shireese Statin from Detroit Mercy (7.10 - meet record). Naef finished off her day with a third in the 200-meter dash (26.15). That was also a personal best time. Junior Nicole Wee also competed very well, finishing second to Statin in the 200-meter dash, breaking her own school record in the process (25.98). Thibaudeau took second in the 55-meter hurdles (8.37). The UW-Milwaukee distance medley relay team won with a time of 12:28.57, and sophomore Brianne Peterson (Plymouth, Wis.) garnered a second in the 5000-meter run (17:53.89) and sixth in the 3000-meter run (10:30.34). Her efforts earned her MCC Track Newcomer of the Year honors. "It's been a long time coming," said head coach Pete Corfeld. "Trying to get that first title is like an albatross around your neck. But it feels great. Now we have to start a streak and we have the type of athletes to make that happen." As for the men, the meet didn't get off to a good start as senior Paul McGinley (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) strained his hamstring during his third-place finish in the high jump (6-4). He was also victorious in the long jump (23-4). Then, to really test the meddle of the Panther men, junior Jon Manke had an off day, finishing third in the shot put (49-0 ¼). But that's when the Panther seniors took over. Chris Brace (Janesville, Wis.) defeated MCC Field Outstanding Newcomer of the Year Angelo Finnie from Detroit in the triple jump (46-10). Nate Andrews (Howards Grove, Wis.) flexed his muscle, as he rather convincingly won the 55-meter high hurdles (7.67), third in the 200-meter dash (23.17) and fourth in the triple jump (41-0 ½). Justin Wilson (Sun Prairie, Wis.) won the pole vault (14-6) and took fifth in the high jump (6-2). The men's distance medley relay team finished also claimed second (10:16.33). But the knockdown, drag-out slobbernocker came down to the 1600-meter relay. UW-Milwaukee was leading Detroit, 102-100, as they entered the final event of the championships. Through three legs of the relay, UW-Milwaukee and Detroit were neck and neck. The Titans took the lead around the first curve of the anchor leg. Andrews couldn't catch up, and Detroit secured the first tie in MCC Indoor Championships history. But the host Panthers made the historical mark, as they completed the second MCC Indoor Conference sweep in the conference's revamped history. Detroit pulled it off in 1996. For the men, this sweep completed their fourth straight conference crown. As a team, the Panthers have concluded their Indoor season. They will take the week off before sending individuals to the NCAA Qualification Meet at Iowa State in two weeks. Outdoor season begins March 24, 2000 at the Purdue Invitational.
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