MILWAUKEE, Wis. (April 2, 2009) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's track and field team returns to action this weekend at the Big Blue Classic, hosted by Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Ill. The meets gets underway Thursday with the multi-events and continues through Saturday.

A handful of Panthers will make the trek to Gainesville, Fla., for the Florida Relays Friday and Saturday. The 4x100m and 4x400m relays will join junior Quinn Mongoven at the meet, as will a pair of members of the women's team.

Milwaukee is coming off a strong start to the outdoor season, as it took second at the Spring Classic last weekend in Carbondale, Ill. Mongoven was one of five event winners for UWM at the meet, tying the school record in topping the field in the high jump (6-10 3/4). Junior Isaiah Adams won the 400m, junior Tyler Bucholz won the 200m and both runners combined on the first-place 4x100m relay.

For their efforts, Mongoven was named the Horizon League Field Athlete of the Week and Adams was rewarded with the Track Athlete of the Week Award.

Mongoven's performance was also notable in that he qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional at his first meet of the season. He will be making his second-straight regional trip in May. He is currently tied for eighth in the nation with his height.

The Panthers are making their annual trip to the Big Blue Classic. Last season, they had a handful of standout performances at the non-scoring meet. Bucholz won the 200m and ran with the winning 4x100m relay. That relay, along with the 4x400m relay, posted the second-fastest times in school history.

Next weekend sees UWM competing in its own backyard, as it travels across town for the Marquette Dual Meet. The Panthers and Golden Eagles will meet April 10th in Milwaukee's first straight dual meet since the 1997 indoor season.