MILWAUKEE, Wis. (April 3, 2007) - Junior Amber Curtis of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's track and field team has been honored for her performance in the first week of the outdoor season, earning Horizon league Athlete of the Week honors for April 2, the league office announced today.

The award stems from her performance March 23-24 at the Southern Illinois Invitational, where she set school records in both the discus and hammer throws.

Curtis capped her weekend with a throw of 158-2 in the discus Saturday to take second in the event and handily eclipse Anne Vuchichevich's school record of 136-10. Her throw also qualified her for the NCAA Regionals in May. In the weight throw Friday, she tossed 139-11 to break the school standard of 129-3, previously held by Stephanie Ray. She placed 12th in that event.

For the league award, her performance carried over to this week due to the lack of league team's competing that weekend.

Curtis is one of three Panther throwers who, through just two meets, have already qualified for the regionals.

On the men's side, seniors Nick Gretz in the shot put and Nick Wichert in the hammer throw have already qualified while breaking school records in their respective events. Gretz, this week's league male athlete of the week, broke the shot put record last weekend, while Wichert accomplished his feat at Southern Illinois, surpassing his own school mark by over five feet.

Milwaukee returns to action this weekend at the Eastern Illinois Invitational, April 5-7, in Charleston, Ill.