Beth Zimmerman

UWM Goes For Indoor/Outdoor League Sweep This Week

Panther women in seek of first outdoor championship since 2003

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (May 9, 2007) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's track and field team heads to Indianapolis this week for the 2007 Horizon League Outdoor Championships. The meet kicks off Thursday and concludes Friday.

The Panthers are in search of their first outdoor title since 2003. That year, UWM swept the league indoor and outdoor league titles. The team won the 2007 indoor championship in February.

Sophomore Jenni Saarinen and freshman Emily Budde have given Milwaukee the early lead in the standings as they competed last weekend at the Butler Twilight, where the league held its multi-events. Saarinen claimed the heptathlon title, with Budde taking third.

UWM has four championships and has taken second place four more times in the nine-year history of the league's outdoor meet.

The rest of the team had its final tune-up for the league championships last weekend at the Wisconsin Twilight in Madison. Senior Timeka Walker won the 100m to lead the way. The Panthers had eight more top-10 finishes, including fifth-place showings from seniors Andrea Ziebell (100mH) and Amy Sunby (400mH) and junior Erin Magargee.

Last season, Milwaukee fell just 11 points shy of Youngstown State first place in posting its eighth top-two finish in nine seasons. Walker won the 200m and Saarinen won the long jump, highlighting five league champions for the Panthers.

This season, the team has to be optimistic, as UWM leads the league in nine of 21 events. Walker leads the league in the 100m, while Saarinen is currently tops in both the long jump and javelin. In the long jump, four of the top five jumpers are Panthers.

 

 

Junior Amber Curtis also paces the league in a pair of categories, including the discus by over 18 feet. She is also number one in the shot put. Senior Taryn Cozine has run the fastest 400m hurdle time, while sophomore Beth Zimmerman and freshman Reigna Pierce are the top two triple jumpers.

Milwaukee has the fastest 4x100m relay time this season and boasts three pole vaulters tied for the league lead. Sophomores Joy VanLaanen and Jes Weyandt and freshman Erin Havener have all cleared 11-5 ¾ this season. Havener, this season, and VanLaanen in 2006, have won the last two indoor pole vault competitions.