Milwaukee Athletics - Women's Track

Milwaukee Heads To Iowa For Weekend Meet Panthers look to continue their early success at Northern Iowa

Jan. 25, 2012

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's and women's track and field teams hit the road this week as they head to Cedar Falls, Iowa for the Jack Jennett Invitational hosted by Northern Iowa.

The meet gets underway Friday with multi-events competition slatted for 1:30 in the afternoon, while the majority of events will take place Saturday.

Last Time Out
UWM took down cross-town rival Marquette in a thrilling meet last Friday, 140-139. Milwaukee combined to win 12 events including the men's 4x400 relay to seal the victory in the final race of the night. In all, two school records and four Klotsche Center records fell in just the second meet of the season.

Triple Jump U
For the second-straight weekend, the Panthers took the top spot in both men's and women's triple jump and did so in record-setting fashion. Junior Samia Taylor cleared 41-3 1/4 to take first on the women's side. That mark is the second-longest in UWM indoor history, second only to her mark of 41-7 1/4 in the season opener. Freshman Aaron Dillon was the winner on the men's side, taking first for the second time in just his second collegiate meet. Dillon's jump of 47-11 now stands fifth all-time in UWM indoor history.

League Recognition
Junior Samia Taylor and freshman Aaron Dillon swept the Horizon League Field Athletes of the Week honors this week after helping the Panthers to a riveting one-point win over Marquette. Taylor took first in both the long jump and triple jump while Dillon won the triple jump on the men's side and now stands fifth in Panther history in the event.

This was actually the second-straight week Taylor won the league award in his freshman campaign, taking the honor after winning the triple jump in week one. Junior Moriah Myles also was recognized by the league after the first meet where she won shot put and finished runner-up in weight throw.

Setting The Record Straight
Just two weeks into the season, Milwaukee has already broken a handful of school and Klotsche Center records. At the Carthage Invitational, Durell Busby and Chiamaka Okonkwo both broke the school's 55m hurdles records, both of which ironically stood for the past 20 years. Samia Taylor also broke the school record in the triple jump in week one.

Then, last week, sophomore Simbi Laaro set the school and Klotsche record in the 60m, finishing the race in a blistering 7.52 seconds. Taylor also tied a Klotsche Center record in triple jump.

Scouting The Competition
Milwaukee will be going against quite a variety of schools this coming weekend. Besides host Northern Iowa, UWM will be competing against Western Illinois, Nebraska-Omaha, St. Ambrose, Coe College and Iowa Central Community College.

What's In A Name
The Jack Jennett Invitational was named for the former Northern Iowa head coach who left a lasting mark on the program. Jennett coached the Panthers from 1962-76 and led UNI to new heights. He still lives in Cedar Falls and is a regular at Northern Iowa home meets.

National Rankings
Samia Taylor's school-record leap of 41-7 1/4 in triple jump at the Carthage Invitational stands as one of the best jumps in the nation. At the time of the jump, Taylor's mark was fifth in the nation. She now sits No. 7 heading into the Jack Jennett Invite.

Up Next
UWM heads to South Bend next weekend for the Meyo Invitational. The meet, hosted by Notre Dame, is set to start Friday and run through Saturday.