May 11, 2004
MILWAUKEE -
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On Tap: Dr. Keeler Invitational (NCAA Last Chance Meet)
Where: North Central College (Naperville, Ill.)
When: Thurs., May 13 - Fri., May 14
Session One Start Time: 11:00 a.m.
Session Two Start Time: 11:00 a.m.
Complete Meet Schedule
UWM Men's Outdoor Individual Results
UWM Women's Outdoor Individual Results
On Tap
With the 2004 Horizon League Outdoor Championships now in the rearview mirror, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will be sending a handful of competitors to the NCAA Last Chance Qualifying meet.
Milwaukee athletes will face qualifying competition at the Dr. Keeler Invitational, held on the campus of North Central College in Naperville, Ill. The event will run over the course of two days, starting Thursday, May 13 at 11 a.m.
The 2004 NCAA Regional meet will be held on May 28-29 down in Baton Rouge, La.
About The Panthers
The 2004 version of the Panthers' track and field team features a great deal of youth as the women's roster is compiled of 31 athletes with 22 of them being underclassmen. The men's team is comprised of 28 athletes with 20 athletes being freshmen and sophomores. Not only do both teams face the challenge of competing at a high level with younger athletes, but also the women's team has the task of making up for the graduation of athletes like Lynda Thiel, Stephanie Kenesie and Kristi Naef. Plus, the Panther women also carry the reign of 2003 Horizon League Indoor and Outdoor Champions. The Panther men will be looking to return to championship form under the leadership of Adam Hobler, Eric Gresham and Nick Davis. All three were members of the last outdoor championship that the men's team captured in 2002.
League Record Book Needs Changing
Nick Davis, Kyle Huebner, Stephanie Ray and Katie Slamka made sure that the Horizon League would have to make some changes its record books. The four panthers each made contributions to the books during the 2004 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships (5/7). Davis scored two league records, finishing first in the javelin and the high jump. Huebner notched a record in the men's pole vault, while Ray added put herself at the top for the women's pole vault. Slamka capped off the record-setting performances by becoming the league's fastest 400-meter hurdler.
Add Another One To The Mix
UWM has racked up its fair share of track and field conference/league titles over the years and this year has turned into more additions. The men have claimed three outdoor titles in the last four years ('00-'02) while the women had four straight ('00-'03). Updating that total, the Men claimed the league indoor championship this past February and added another notch in the belt by winning the Horizon League's outdoor championship (5/7).
Making The Hurdles Look Easy
Sophomore Katie Slamka has taken the 400-meter hurdles and made them look like easy. In order to master the hurdles, a steady sense of rhythm and timing has to be achieved. Add a distance of 400 meters to the mix and it becomes extremely difficult. However, Slamka has found that harmony as she finished first at the league championships with a league and personal-best time of 1:01.81. The sophomore's best time, to that point, was 1:02.42.
Twice As Nice
Freshman jumper Chris Cox won the league's Newcomer of the Year For Field Events during the indoor championships for his wins in the triple and long jump. Most athletes dream of winning an award like that just once in their career. Cox can say that he's won it twice, claiming it for a second time after winning the triple jump at this year's outdoor league championships. The Madison native won the award based on his winning leap of 46' 10" in the triple jump.
Record Pace
The UWM women held the league record in the outdoor 1600-meter relay after Teresa Braunreiter, Jill Naus, Jessica Hendree and Katie Seep notched a time of 3:52.98 in 2002. Looking to break the record, this year's relay team succeeded by running a time of 3:49.99. Unfortunately, Milwaukee's name won't appear in the record books as Youngstown State finished ahead of the Panthers with a time of 3:48.17. Nonetheless, it was the third best performance in UWM history by this year's Panthers.
Having A Career Meet
Senior Nick Davis had a career meet at this year's outdoor league championships. The Racine native set league records in the high jump after clearing a height of 6' 10.75" and in the javelin with a throw of 188' 4". Davis' league records in the high jump and javelin were also UWM school records. Adding to the mix, he also registered a second-place finish in the long jump and a third-place finish in the triple jump. Davis' career meet was rewarded as he was named the Horizon League's Outstanding Performer of the Year For Field Events.
Out Of The Gates In A Hurry
Iris Perez has been coming out of the gates better than anyone throughout the 200-meter dash. One of track and field's exciting open sprinting events, Perez logged a best time of 25.72 at the Lee Calhoun Invite (4/10), but came away with a breakthrough time of 24.89 at the WIU Tune Up. Her time places her third all-time on UWM's list of top performers. Perez added more encouraging times to her list as she recorded times of 24.98 and 25.12 in the 200-meter dash at the league championships.
Back In Action
Adam Hobler has returned to the track for the outdoor season after being injured for most of the indoor season. Hobler has been posting strong results in the 200 and 400-meter running events, having ran the third-fastest 200-meter dash time in UWM history, scoring a mark of 21.86 during the preliminary heat of the event at the league championships. The senior, who is the school's 400-meter run record-holder, broke his record time of 48.74 by posting a time of 48.15 in the finals at the league championships.
Turning It Up A Notch
Katie Seep, Griffin McNulty and Katie Anderson found ways to turn their performances up another notch during the 800-meter run at this year's league championships. Seep entered the event with a season-best time of 2:19.94, but wiped that mark clear during prelims with a time of 2:15.81. Apparently that wasn't good enough for her as she cleared it again by registering a time of 2:14.35 in the finals. McNulty, who's best time was 2:18.75, set a new personal-best by scoring a time of 2:15.56 during the prelims. Anderson entered with her best time of 2:19.41 and cleared it away after running a time of 2:17.57 during prelims.
Not Her Best, But Good Enough
Sophomore Pole Vaulter Stephanie Ray didn't have her best pole-vaulting performance at this year's championship, but it was good enough. Ray, whose best mark is 11' 6.25", claimed her second-best mark of the season after vaulting a height of 11' 1.75". Her mark resulted in a first-place finish and a new league record. Ray broke Lynda Thiel's record of 11' 0".
Out of Nowhere
Freshman Taryn Cozine came out of nowhere to make her first outdoor appearances of the spring at this year's league championships. Coming away with solid times, Cozine placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdles and ninth in the 100-meter hurdles. The freshman placed fifth in both preliminary heats of the 100 and 400-meter hurdles during the championships.
Better Times
Josh Nygren, Andy Kivioja and Micah Hanthorn all posted strong times in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the league championships. Nygren had a previous season-best time of 9:32.14, but knocked off almost 10 minutes to set a best time of 9:22.87. Kivioja went from 9:47.67 to 9:36.01, chopping off over 11 minutes. Hanthorn had a season-best time of 9:58.94, but erased that mark when he registered a time of 9:49.81.
Becoming A Trend
The Drake Relays has turned into the record-breaking relays for the Panthers. Milwaukee claimed four school records over the course of three days with top times being set in the men's 1600 and 3200-meter relays and in the women's 400-meter shuttle hurdle relay and four-mile relay.
New Addition
There's been a new addition to the women's track and field record book thanks to Christine Wampach, Katie Anderson, Anna Christian and Kourtney Nault. With all four Panthers having displayed a prowess in running long distances and doing so with respectable times, the women's four-mile relay was added. The four athletes have competed in the even twice this year (Kansas and Drake Relays) and have built strong times. The relay team compiled a time of 21:33.16 in Lawrence and dropped that time to 20:52.59 in Des Moines.
Bring On The Championships
It took one time for the Panther women to break through and that was all they needed to get use to winning at the Kansas Relays. Milwaukee brought home two championships at this year's relay meet. The straw that broke the camel's back came courtesy of the four-mile relay team. The group of Christine Wampach, Katie Anderson, Anna Christian and Kourtney Nault claimed the first win by completing the event in a time of 21.33.16. The next group to break through was the 3200-meter relay team, which paced the way with a time of 9:19.26.
Career-Best At Drake
Sophomore Josh Nygren has been pretty quiet this spring having only competed in four events throughout the outdoor season. Having said that, Nygren has made an effort to give it his best and came through in a big way during Milwaukee's first day of competition at the 95th Annual Drake Relays. Typically a distance runner, Nygren literally went the distance to claim his career-best time of 30:52.71 in the 10,000-meter run. His previous career-best time was 31:44.94.
Starting Things Off Right
Iris Perez and Sara Vanderloop have become the catalysts for the women's 800-meter and sprint medley relay teams. Perez led off the 800-meter and sprint medley relays at the Drake Relays and, both times, handed off to VanderLoop to take the second leg. The results...a spot on the school's top-10 relay list in both events. It's no surprise that the two Panthers are having success running right by each other as they are first and second on the team's top times list in the 200-meter dash.
Showing Endurance
The first day of the Drake Relays were probably tough on all the runners, but Anna Christian had to have had one of the tougher days. Christian competed in the 10,000-meter run and then followed it up a little while later to compete in the women's four-mile relay. The junior ran a personal-best time of 36:44.82 in the 10,000 and placed 10th. She also helped the relay team set a school record.
Running Strong Again
Freshman mid-distance runner Justin Gorman had an indoor season that most first-year collegiate athletes wish they could have. Gorman was named Horizon League Athlete of the Week (2/3) and qualified for the Junior Nationals Track and Field Championship after running the 800-meter run in a time of 1:52.39 at the ISU Classic (2/13). Gorman, from Spring Valley, has continued to run strong as he competes in the outdoor season. Competing in the 1,500-meter runs, Gorman improved his best time to 3:58.34. His previous best time was 3:59.50.
Adding Awards
Sophomore Tenia Fisher should break out the boxes, as she'll have to do some reshuffling of items on her trophy case. Fisher, who was named the Horizon League's Outdoor Track and Field Newcomer of the Year in 2003, added two more awards to her shelf. Fisher was named the Horizon League's Indoor Track Athlete of the Meet for the league's indoor championships and has also been named the Horizon League's Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Fisher had an outstanding indoor season by running the 800-meter run in a time of 2:12.04 and claiming two first-place finishes at the indoor championships (3/26-27).
Another One For The Coach
Panther head coach Pete Corfeld is one of the more quiet coaches in the sport of track and field. A knowledgeable coach, Corfeld resigns to the fact that the athletes do the work. However, his work hasn't gone unnoticed either. Corfeld recently led the Panther men to the 2004 Horizon League Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championship and was also named Coach of the Year both times. For the Panther head coach, the award was the 21st time he's won it and the championship was his 22nd.
Rebuilding The Engine Like New
After finishing fourth at last year's Horizon League Indoor Championships and dropping to fifth in the outdoor championships, the Panther men are readying themselves to rebuild the engine to run as if it's brand new. The Panthers had 13 freshmen on last year's squad. 10 of them will be returning for 2003-04. Returning 10 freshmen into their second year has been a recipe many coaches use to build depth and to add the necessary experience in hopes that it will translate into early success. The Panthers still have some key cogs that were a part of the last teams to win the league championship in Adam Hobler, Eric Gresham and Nick Davis. All three were members of the last indoor and outdoor championships that the Panthers claimed in 2001. Brightness is on the horizon, as the Panthers will return some solid sophomores. Gabe Wagoner, named indoor track athlete of the year, and Josh Nygren, who was a solid performer for the cross country program and paced himself all the way to the NCAA Regional Championship.
Defending The Title
The Panther women enter 2003-04 as the reigning indoor and outdoor champions for the Horizon League. The Panthers have entered each season that way since the 2000-01 season. The Panthers won the indoor championship last year on the Klotsche Center Track with 165 team points, third highest in league history. The squad also notched a victory in the outdoor championships. The next closest team to the Panthers had 81 points (Butler). Kristin Naef, Lynda Theil and Stephanie Kenesie were all major contributors to the championships, but have since moved on due to graduation. The Panthers will look to returnees like Kalin Konop, Sara Vanderloop, Tenia Fisher and Katie Slamka to continue the dominance. Konop finished 2nd and 3rd in the long jump and triple jump in last year's outdoor championships. VanderLoop placed 4th in the 100 and 3rd in the 200. Fisher claimed the victory in the 400-meter dash and Slamka placed 3rd in the 100-meter hurdles and 2nd in the 400-meter hurdles.
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