The Milwaukee Panthers men’s track and field teams announced on April 30 they will compete in two meets this weekend: the Gary Wieneke Memorial hosted by Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, and the Badger Challenge hosted by Wisconsin in Madison. These events are the last competitions before the teams travel to Rochester, Michigan, for the Outdoor Track & Field Horizon League Championships scheduled for May 8-10.
This series of meets is important as it provides athletes a final opportunity to improve their performances and rankings before the conference championships. The Panthers participate in both indoor and outdoor competitions throughout their season, according to the official website.
Recent highlights include Anna Szepieniec breaking her own school record in long jump with a mark of 6.35 meters at a meet in Louisville, placing her first in the Horizon League and 23rd nationally. Kallie Volk achieved a personal best javelin throw of 37.72 meters, ranking fifth all-time for Milwaukee and fourth within the league. In pole vault, Emma Johnson cleared a career-best height of 3.82 meters while Isabel Roloff reached a season best of 3.67 meters.
On the men’s side, freshman Ty Bauschelt set personal records in both the 400-meter (47.25 seconds) and 200-meter (21.42 seconds) runs at Louisville’s meet; his times rank fifth and seventh respectively on Milwaukee’s all-time list. Anthony Buford also entered program history with his eighth-place finish in the 400-meter dash (47.65 seconds). Josh Cygan won discus with a season-best throw of 52.86 meters—currently leading all competitors within their conference.
The team contributes to athletic tradition at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as part of NCAA Division I competition within the Horizon League according to its official website according to the official website. The program supports student-athletes’ balance between academics and athletics according to its official website while operating from Milwaukee, Wisconsin according to its official website.
Looking ahead, athletes will focus on preparing for next week’s championship event at Oakland University’s Elaine Leigh Track & Field Complex.
