BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Last year, Wisconsin women's track and field standout Taylor Amann missed the 2017 Big Ten Outdoor Championships due to injury.

Amann made the most of her final conference meet on Friday as the senior won her third Big Ten Conference title in the pole vault while matching the school record in the event with a jump of 14 feet, 3 1/2 inches.

The Hartland, Wisconsin, native was the only athlete to clear 13-8 1/4 before electing to jump at the school-record height. She cleared that on her first attempt before bowing out at the meet-record height of 14-6 3/4 to win her second Big Ten title this year.  

A two-time Big Ten champion indoors, Amann became the first Badger to sweep the indoor and outdoor pole vault conference titles. In addition, Amann now is tied for No. 7 in the country heading into the NCAA West Prelims.

Amann wasn't the only Badger to shine in the vault as Rayce Albino finished runner-up with a clearance of 13-6 1/4.

Albino's journey to silver was a little more dramatic, as she needed a pair of attempts to clear 12-10 ¼ before the bar moved to 13-2 ¼.

After missing the first two attempts at the height, Albino cleared 13-2 ¼ on her final try and passed at 13-4 ¼ before she successfully cleared 13-6 ¼ on her first attempt.

The third Badger to medal on Friday was freshman Sophia Rivera, who placed third in the javelin with a toss of 169-11. It marks the first time that the reigning Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week has earned a podium finish at the conference meet.

In the heptathlon, senior standout Georgia Ellenwood leads the field after tallying 3,634 points through the first four events. She has a 139-point lead on Minnesota junior Ayesha Champagnie, who sits in second.

Ellenwood began her quest for Big Ten glory with a PR of 13.76 in the 100 hurdles before soaring 5-10 in the high jump.

The Langley, British Columbia, native placed fourth in the shot put with a personal-best effort of 41-7 ¾ before taking second in the 200 meters in 24.21.


2018 Big Ten Outdoor Championships by Wisconsin Badgers on Exposure

Fellow senior Casie Pawlik sits in 10th with a score of 2,920 points while Phoebe Edwards started the seven-discipline event before bowing out after the 100 hurdles.

Brenna Detra advanced to the 400 hurdles after running the fourth-fastest time in the qualifying round of 58.72, a season-best time for the senior.

In the 10,000 meters, Shaelyn Sorensen was ninth in 35:16.62.

In the hammer throw, Haley Showalter took 12th with a toss of 183-11 while Banke Oginni hurled the hammer 166-7.

Straight from the Track
UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne
"As always, our multis got the ball rolling for us and both groups did an outstanding job. Georgia leads the heptathlon after day one and is in very good position to win her first outdoor title. Taylor Amann did a super job winning her third conference pole vault title after capturing the indoor titles in 2017 and 2018. Rayce Albino also had a breakout performance in a clutch situation for an unexpected 1-2 finish and 18 points. Sophia Rivera did a nice job in the women's javelin, finishing third to earn six points. 

Senior Taylor Amann
On sweeping the indoor/outdoor pole vault championship:
"It feels amazing. Honestly, it's surreal. It's just an awesome moment, especially going 1-2 with my teammate Rayce [Albino], it's an incredible moment and a great day."

Up Next:
The heptathlon resumes on Saturday at 10:15 a.m. CT with the long jump while the first event on the track will be the 400 meters at 3 p.m. Fans can watch the meet live on FloTrack.

2018 Big Ten Outdoor Championships
May 11, 2018
Women's Results

200 Meters Prelims
13. Gabby DesRosiers: 24.28
26. Bianca Stubler: 25.01

1500 Meters Prelims
16. Alicia Monson: 4:28.91

400 Hurdles Prelims
4. Brenna Detra: 58.72 (q)
28. Haley Lubow: 1:05.94

10,000 Meters
9. Shaelyn Sorensen: 35:16.62

Pole Vault
1.Taylor Amann: 14-3 1/2 (4.36m)
2. Rayce Albino: 13-6 1/4 (4.12m)
11. Jane McCurry: 12-10 1/4 (3.92m)

 Hammer Throw
12. Haley Showalter: 183-11 (56.07)
17. Banke Oginni: 166-7 (50.77)

 Javelin
3. Sophia Rivera: 169-11 (51.80m)
 
Heptathlon Point Standings (Through four events)
1.Georgia Ellenwood: 3634
10. Casie Pawlik: 2920
Phoebe Edwards: DNF

Heptathlon 100 Meter Hurdles
2. Georgia Ellenwood: 13.76
9. Casie Pawlik: 14.55
14. Phoebe Edwards: 16.37

Heptathlon High Jump
2. Georgia Ellenwood: 5-10 (1.78m)
13. Casie Pawlik: 5-1 3/4 (1.57m)
Phoebe Edwards: DNS

Heptathlon Shot Put
4. Georgia Ellenwood: 41-7 3/4 (12.69m)
9. Casie Pawlik: 32-5 (9.88m)

 Heptathlon 200 Meters
2. Georgia Ellenwood: 24.21
8. Casie Pawlik: 26.03