Results

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (May 11, 2006) - Freshman Jenni Saarinen and senior Stephanie Ray won individual championships to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's track and field team on the first day of the Horizon League Outdoor Championships, Thursday in Indianapolis.

The Panthers sit first in the standings with 259 points, while Youngstown State is second with 213 and Detroit is third with 108. UIC (60 points) is fourth after day one, while Wright state (58), Loyola (47) and Butler (13) round out the field.

Saarinen leapt a school-record 19-9 1/2 to win the long jump, eclipsing the previous mark of 19-5 1/2, set by Stephanie Kenesie. The windy conditions in Indianapolis created a wind index that made her jump ineligible for NCAA qualifications and the league record. Four more Panthers scored in the event, led by freshman Beth Zimmerman in fourth with a jump of 18-1 3/4.

The Finland native also placed second in the javelin with the second-best throw in school history of 125-11. Senior Katie Slamka placed third in the event, throwing 118-0 and senior Jodi Hrdina was fifth (111-8).

Ray won a third league title in the pole vault, finishing with a final height of 11-1 1/2. Freshman Jes Weyandt cleared 9-11 3/4 to take fourth.

Milwaukee also scored seven athletes over the two running events which had finals on the first day. Senior Anna Christian finished second in the 10,000m with a time of 37:32.63. Freshman Holly Nearman was third in 37:34.16 and sophomore Angie Huebner crossed the line fourth in 37:42.73.

In the 2000m steeplechase, senior Katie Anderson finished second in 11:30.13, while senior Griffin McNulty was fourth, sophomore Erin Magargee fifth and junior Kris Gasser sixth.

Junior Timeka Walker highlighted the day's preliminaries, topping the prelims of the 100m. Her time of 11.77 in the event is second all-time, 0.27 seconds (11.50) off the record mark. Senior Tenia Fisher qualified first in the 400m and junior Taryn Cozine was UWM's other No. 1 qualifier, doing so in the 400m hurdles.

The Panthers are seeking their first outdoor league title since 2003, and fourth overall, when the meet continues Friday at 9 a.m.