FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Wisconsin men's track and field team was in action at two meets Saturday afternoon. A majority of the team competed at the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, while the throwers took part in the Triton Invitational in San Diego, California. 
 
Mid-distance runners shine in Arkansas
Despite battling cold and rainy conditions, the trio of Eric Brown, Carl Hirsch and Oliver Hoare led the Badger contingent at the John McDonnell Invitational on Saturday.

Brown delivered one of the top performances for UW, setting a new personal best with a time of 1 minute, 48.72 seconds, topping the field by more than 1.2 seconds. His time ranks third in the Big Ten Conference and 13th in the NCAA West region.
 
Just behind Brown was teammate Cooper Barth, who was fifth in 1:53.34.
 
The Badgers picked up another victory in the 4x400 meter relay, besting the field in 3:13.59 as Brown held off a Kansas State runner down the final 100 meters.
 
Carl Hirsch led the four Badgers in the 1500 meters as the junior finished third in 3:43.26, a personal record. Oliver Hoare was right on Hirsch's heels, crossing the line fourth with a personal-best time of 3:43.48, almost a 10-second personal best. Hirsch ranks third in the Big Ten while Hoare's time is the fifth-best time in the league and the top time by a freshman.
 
Russell Sandvold ran a personal-best 3:47.67 to finish seventh and Joe Hardy placed 10th in 3:50.61.
 
Ryan Davis earned a personal record in the 400 meters with a time of 47.10 to cross the line in fourth. Teammate Corbin Ellis came in 15th with a run of 49.53.
 
In the 100 meters, Alex Teague also set a personal best in 10.68 to take seventh in the event. The sophomore followed that up with another personal record in the 200 meters with a time of 21.95.
 
Trent Nytes finished in third during the long jump with a mark of 23 feet, 2 1/2 inches (7.07m).
 
In the decathlon featuring the Badgers and host Razorbacks, Sawyer Smith will go into Sunday holding onto second in the decathlon. His point total of 3,926 puts him 37 back of Gabe Moore from Arkansas.
 
Smith earned a victory in the shot put with a personal best toss of 46-8 1/4 (14.23m) and second-place finishes in the long jump (22-5 1/4) and 400 meters (49.69). The junior also set a personal record in the 100 meters, taking third with a run of 10.90.
 
Freshmen Paul Afflitto and Travis Toliver are also taking aim at the decathlon crown, sitting in sixth and seventh, respectively. Afflitto has earned 3,622 points, including a second-place finish in the 100 meters (10.89) and a third-place mark in the 400 meters (50.17). Toliver ended his first collegiate decathlon with 3,520 points.
 
The decathlon will resume Sunday at 10 a.m. CT.
 
Wedig and Budde lead UW in San Diego
In the hammer throw at the Triton Invitational, freshman Tucker Wedig delivered the fourth-best performance in Wisconsin history. Wedig threw the hammer 192-7 (58.71 meters) to place ninth in the invitational section of the event.
 
Riley Budde barely missed out on the invite shot put finals, placing 10th in the discipline with a heave of 59-8 3/4 (18.21m). Budde also finished fifth in the open discus with a heave of 175-0.