March 30, 2004

MILWAUKEE -

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Tenia Fisher entered the 2004 indoor track and field season for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's track and field program with hopes of building off a strong freshman campaign.

Fisher ended her first season as a Panther by being named the Horizon League's Outdoor Track and Field Newcomer of the Year after she posted a winning time in the 400-meter run in Indianapolis, Ind. and was ready to be an even stronger competitor in her next season. Little did she know that she'd be setting the table for an even better second season as a member of the Panthers' women's track and field team. As a result, the sophomore from Milwaukee has been named the Horizon League's Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

"Tenia had a fantastic indoor season for us," Panther head coach Pete Corfeld said. "She just keeps working harder and harder and it has shown in every meet she has competed in. She's the type of athlete that has a lot of talent to her and has the drive to become an elite athlete."

Fisher got off on the right foot in just the second meet of the 2004 indoor season by helping lead the Panther women to a win at the Carthage College Invitational (1/31). Amongst strong performances, Fisher made sure that hers was considered a stand-out performance by, not only, claiming a win in the 600-meter run, but by setting a new meet record with her time of 1:38.14.

From there, the sophomore ensured herself of peaking at the right moments. While the Panthers hosted the UWM Panther Tune Up Meet (2/21), their only home meet of the season, the sophomore was starting to set her performance levels to championship setting. Knowing that the Horizon League Indoor Championships were a week away, she made the most of her opportunity to compete in the 800-meter run and raced her way to a first-place finish with a time of 2:16.63. While Fisher's time and finish were great to have, the sophomore was primed to have an outstanding championship performance.

"When you talk about an athlete that has a great deal of potential, Tenia's name is definitely in that statement," Corfeld said. "She has been doing all of her workouts down to the very last detail and has set herself up to only get better."

Competing in the Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships (3/26-27), Fisher would find herself running in the 400 and 800-meter runs while also competing as part of the 1600-meter relay team. Fisher made an impact in all three events, by claiming first in both the 400 and 800-meter runs and helping the relay team finish second. Fisher ran her 400 in a time of 57.26 and her 800 in a season-best time of 2:16.39.

Despite the strong showing at the league meet, her best was yet to come. Fisher competed at the Alex Wilson Invitational (3/6) to try and qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Although she missed the qualifying mark, the Panther ran her 800-meter race to a UWM school record time of 2:12.04. Her time broke the previous time of 2:13.34 set by Anne Hills in 1985.

Other goals now loom on the horizon for the underclassmen. There's a possibility of qualifying for the NCAA Regionals (5/28-29) and even the chance, with this being an olympic year, to qualify for the Olympic Time Trials.

"She has a great deal of potential," Corfeld said. "I really feel that she could be an all-american and a regular competitor in the NCAA championships. She has to break 2:10.29 in the 800 to make regionals, but she definitely has the ability. With the type of athlete, person and leader Tenia is, I believe she has the drive that can lead her to be a part of the Olympic Time Trials."

Whatever the case may be, Fisher has already made a positive impact and has continued to move forward looking at new goals.