May 2, 2012

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's and women's track & field teams are set to host the Horizon League Outdoor Championships this weekend at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Action will get underway Friday morning at 9 a.m. with multi events and continue through Sunday afternoon.

The following link will be updated all weekend and serve as the one page that will get you all of the information you will need for the 2012 Horizon League Outdoor Championships.

VIDEO PREVIEW:

TICKET PRICES:
Two-Day Pass: $15.00
One-Day Pass: $10.00
Seniors/Student* Two-Day Pass: $10.00
Seniors/Student* One-Day Pass: $5.00
*Anyone under 17 w/valid high school student ID • Seniors: 60 and over • Students with valid HL ID admitted free

SCOUTING THE MEET:
Milwaukee heads into the outdoor championships with a large target on its back. Not only did both the men's and women's teams win indoor titles for UWM back in February, they both also come in as the defending outdoor champions, as well.

In fact, Milwaukee's men's team comes in having taken home an unprecedented 17 consecutive league championships overall, the longest active Division-I streak in the nation. The women's team also boasts an impressive record, winning the last five overall Horizon League titles.

LAST TIME OUT:
The Panthers competed in two meets last weekend, traveling to the 103rd running of the storied Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. Durell Busby led the way by taking sixth in the much-anticipated 110m finals on Saturday against some of his top competition for the nation's fastest man in the event.

UWM also competed at the Marquette Invitational, "traveling" across town to Valley Fields. Battling cold, wind and rain, the Panthers took three top spots on the day despite a shorter roster in their final action before the league meet.

GOING NATIONAL:
Milwaukee has had quite a bit of success this season and it has shown in the national rankings. UWM has placed an outstanding 16 individuals in the nation's top 100 at various points throughout the season and currently has six slotted among the best in the country.

Junior Durell Busby leads the way, coming in 27th in the nation in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.90.

Other Panthers currently receiving national attention are Shelby Schaal in the heptathlon (41st/5,063 points), freshman Aaron Dillon (66th/15.20m) and junior Samia Taylor (68th/12.49) in men's and women's triple jump, sophomore Dexter Schleis in the 400m hurdles (70th/52.24) and sophomore Nick Hughes in high jump (73rd/2.10m).

LAST YEAR:
UWM comes into the outdoor championships as the defending champion in both men's and women's action. On the women's side last year, Milwaukee won their second-straight outdoor title in thrilling fashion. The women's 4x400m relay team took first in the meet's final event to bring Milwaukee from behind to win the league crown by three points.

On the men's side last year, UWM held a 60-point advantage entering the final day of competition and withstood a late push to easily grab their eighth-straight outdoor title by 20.5 points.

Both of those titles, combined with the pair of indoor championships, gave the Panthers a season sweep of the league's four crowns. The program has accomplished all four sweeps in league history (2001, 2007, 2010 and 2011).

UP NEXT:
Milwaukee will head to Louisville, Ky. next Friday (April 11) for the Cardinal Twilight in hopes of qualifying for the NCAA West Regional Championships.