Zimmerman Leads Panthers To Sweep At UWM Panther Tune Up

Beth Zimmerman

Junior jumper breaks one school record, falls just shy in another

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Feb. 22, 2008) - Junior Beth Zimmerman won two events and broke a school record to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's track and field team to a four-team sweep at the UWM Panther Tune Up Friday evening at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers scored a decisive 93-21 win over Chicago State and defeated league foes UIC, 92-33; Loyola, 90-34; and Valparaiso, 84-52.

Zimmerman was one of two multiple events winners, breaking a school record in the triple jump and coming within ¼ inches of another school mark in the long jump. She cleared 39-9 ¾ to win the triple jump, breaking her own mark of 39-0 ½. Sophomore Reigna Pierce was second in the event with a jump of 38-9 ½, which is just off the former mark and second all-time.

Zimmerman and Pierce went one and two in the long jump, as well, with Zimmerman leaping 19-5 ¼ in the event for top honors. Her distance was just off the school record of 19-5 ½ held by Stephanie Kenesie. Pierce was second with a jump of 18-0 ¼.

Sophomore Kelsey Conrad also won two events, topping the 60m and 200m. In the 60m, she crossed the line in 7.73, just 0.10 seconds off a school record and second in school history. She then ran a time of 25.19 in the 200m, which pushed her up to third in school history, just 0.01 seconds off the second-fastest time in school history.

In the pole vault, sophomore Erin Havener won the pole vault with a final height of 11-7 ¾, while junior Jes Weyandt was second at 11-3 ½. The Panthers also had a pair of athletes finish atop of the high jump, with junior Kory Olson and freshman Chelsea Von Ruden each clearing 5-0 ¼.

Junior Holly Nearman made a rare appearance in the mile and just missed out on a top-10 finish in school history when she ran 5:05.60 in taking first place. Junior Erin Magargee was third in the event in 5:12.44.

Senior Shannon Buttchen rounded out Milwaukee's winners on the day with a first-place finish in the 400m. She finished the event in 59.68, just ahead of sophomore Laura Ring in second place (1:00.38).

The UWM Panther Tune Up was Milwaukee's final preparation for the Horizon League Championships next weekend in Kent, Ohio. The Panthers have won the last two league indoor titles.