Men's Track Opens Outdoor Season This WeekendMarch 23, 2005 MILWAUKEE, Wis. - After successfully defending its Horizon League Indoor Championship, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's track and field team has its sights set on the road to repeating as outdoor champions when it opens its outdoor season this weekend (March 26) at the Spring Classic in Carbondale, Ill. Southern Illinois plays host to the one-day event, which features field events starting at 8 p.m., while track events are set to start at 1 p.m. Milwaukee will be joined at the meet by 13 teams from throughout the state of Illinois and the region, including Bradley, Eastern Illinois, Florrisant Valley, Illinois State, Lincoln College, Miami (Ohio), Murray State, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Southern Indiana, Tennessee-Martin, Western Illinois and the host Salukis. The indoor season came to a close at the Alex Wilson Invitational March 5, as eight Panthers made the trip to South Bend, Ind., for the meet. Junior Dan Schultz finished his first season with UWM strong, setting the school's pole vault record, just one week after winning a Horizon League Championship in the event. The remainder of the team ended their seasons at the league meet Feb. 27. Schultz was one of nine Panther league champions, which led to a seventh team championship in nine years. Also winning individual crowns was juniors Sean Cludy (triple jump), Josh Nygren (3000m), sophomores Trentin Edwards (200m), Justin Gorman (800m), Nick Gretz (weight throw, shot put), freshman Jay Schweitzer (400m) and the 4x400m relay. Edwards earned the league's track newcomer of the year honor, while freshman Darren Cole earned the honor for field events. Gretz was named the League Field Performer of the Meet and head coach Pete Corfeld earned his 22nd career coach of the year award. There is no rest for the weary, as Milwaukee will head to West Lafayette, Ind., next weekend (April 1-2) for the Purdue Invitational. UWM does not have a weekend off until after the Horizon League Championships (May 13-14), giving it seven-straight weeks off competition heading into the league meet.
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