The Milwaukee Panthers women’s track and field team reported on Apr. 11 a series of strong performances during a split-meet weekend, competing at the Duke Invitational in Durham, North Carolina, and the Marquette Invitational in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The results highlight the team’s continued engagement in both indoor and outdoor competitions throughout their season, according to the official website. At the Duke Invitational, Natalie Block finished second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 57.12 seconds. Anna Szepieniec placed fourth in the long jump with an outdoor career-best of 6.12 meters, now ranking second all-time for Milwaukee in that event. Katie Burns achieved a season-best time of 55.77 seconds in the 400-meter run and improved her personal best by finishing seventeenth in the 200-meter dash at 24.51 seconds.
At home during the Marquette Invitational, freshman Nolie Anderson won first place in discus with a throw of 46.08 meters—the second-longest mark recorded by any Panther athlete for this event. Angelica Refinski won both sprint events (100m: 12.13; 200m: 25.45), while Taylor Thimmesch secured fourth place finishes in both sprints as well.
Other notable results included Victoria Evtimov’s runner-up finish (25.67) in the 200-meter dash and fourth place (59.87) finish over 400 meters; Refinski joined Evtimov, Lilly Wepking, and Thimmesch to win first place as part of Milwaukee’s relay team (47.16). In distance running events at Marquette, Lauren Ripley led teammates Janiyah Taylor, Eileen Tocco, and Ally Schmitz to sweep places one through four for Milwaukee’s program.
The Panthers’ achievements add to their legacy within NCAA Division I athletics as part of both their university’s athletic tradition and membership within the Horizon League according to their official website. The team operates out of Milwaukee while supporting student-athletes academically alongside athletic pursuits as noted on its website.
Looking ahead after this weekend’s meets, athletes from Milwaukee will participate next at two upcoming competitions: The Gibson Invitational held in Terre Haute, Indiana; and La Crosse’s Phil Esten Challenge.
