The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men’s and women’s track team participated in the Iowa State Classic over the weekend, facing teams from all over the country. Held in Aimes, Ia., site of the Iowa St. campus, colleges such as Florida, Kansas, Madison, Nebraska and Arizona St. gave the meet a competitive and intense feel.

“It was a good cross-section of schools from around the nation”, said UWM track head coach Pete Corfeld. “It was tough competition with so many big colleges there, but I look at that as the glass being half full as it sets the bar high for competition.”

With so many colleges present at the meet, overall team scores did not exist, only individual ones. This allows for team members to concentrate on one specific event and avoid potential injury or fatigue. Overall, both the men and women ran well even though no official team score was calculated.

“Overall, the boys’ team did very good,” said senior sprinter Lynn Koepke, who ran the 200 and 400 meter dash. “A lot of personal records were set today.”

Middle distance runner Erin Willis echoes that statement by saying “The team did a great job today, all the girls seem to be dropping time.”

Willis herself ran a personal best 2:22:07 in the 800 meter run and Koepke also set a personal record with times of 22.26 and 51.02 in his races. Both performances are emblematic of the team and a good indication of how the rest of the season should go.

“I’m very excited for the rest of the season, especially after how the teams performed in Iowa,” said junior runner Elizabeth Brothen. “I did not run my best this weekend but with the training we’ve been doing, I am confident I’ll be at my best for conference.”

Their next meet is Friday, Feb. 22nd at UWM and conference, hosted by Youngstown St., is the following weekend.

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