MILWAUKEE, Wis. (April 11, 2006) - Freshman Jenni Saarinen of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has been named the Horizon League Women's Track and Field Athlete of the Week for the week of April 10, the league office announced today.

This marks the second-straight week a Panther has earned the honor, while it is the first of Saarinen's career. Senior Tenia Fisher earned the honor last week.

Last weekend, Saarinen won the heptathlon at the Big Blue Multi-Event in Charleston, Ill. She posted the second-best heptathlon score in school history, finishing with 4,750 points, second only to Kristy Naef's score of 4,889 points from the same meet in 2001. Aiding in the Finland native's score was a high jump of 5-6 1/2, which also sits second in school history, and a javelin throw of 122-0, which is third all-time.

Saarinen finished first in three of the seven events, while taking second in the field in the remaining four. Her score was 601 points better than second place.