Seven wins for the start of the season

Saturday, January 16

Madison, Wis.

Wisconsin Badgers

Badger Icebreaker

Seven wins for the start of the season

January 16, 2021 | Men's Track & Field

Freshmen claim five of seven Badger victories

By: Miriam Jaber

Badger Icebreaker Results (PDF)

MADISON, Wis.-- The Wisconsin men's track and field team started their 2021 indoor season off with seven wins when it hosted Illinois at the Badger Icebreaker on Saturday at the Shell.

Freshmen make a statement

Of the total wins for the Badgers, five of them came from freshmen.

Sam Amusan was the only double-event winner at the meet, winning the 60-meter dash in 6.83 seconds and the 300 meter dash in 35.25.

Abdullahi Hassan ran away from the field in the 600 meters, winning in 1:19.28. Wisconsin swept the top-three places as Colin Enz took second in 1:20.72 and Austin Rendon was third in 1:21.02. Junior Liam Belson ran a personal best time of 1:22.50 to take fifth.

Bob Liking had a strong race in the 3000 meters where he won 8:20.51 as the Badgers recorded three of the top-four finishers. Conor Perreault took second in 8:28.14 and Kavanaugh FitzPatrick was fourth in 8:39.19.

Canon Melstrand won the pole vault with a personal best clearance of 15 feet, 3 inches and George Ghafari in the high jump where he cleared 6-4 3/4.

Other event winners were Ansel Fellman in the 1,000-meter run in 2:29.41. The Badgers claimed the top-three places as Nick Hruskocki took second in 2:30.49 and Tannor Wagner finished third in 2:31.27.

Wisconsin also won the 4x400-meter relay as the team of Davis Wenthe, Liam Belson, Hudson Kugel and Enz combined to finish in 3:18.44.

Seven personal bests set at home

The Badgers season opener was a success for the entire team as seven personal bests were set.

In the weight throw, Dan Ufearo threw a personal best of 62-10 1/2 and redshirt freshman Cole Hooper threw a personal best of 59-8 1/2 to finish second and third, respectively.

Heptathlete Max Herkert recorded two personal bests on the day, clearing 6-2 3/4 to finish third in the high jump, and finishing fifth in the 60-meter hurdle in 8.66 after running a personal best 8.57 in the preliminaries.

Sophomore Peyton Frankenreider ran a personal best of 8.25 in the 60-meter hurdles to finish second. Freshman Davis Wenthe finished fourth in 8.34.

Up Next

The Badgers travel to Iowa City, Iowa, next weekend to compete in the Larry Wieczorek Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

Badger Icebreaker Results

60-Meter Dash
1. Sam Amusan- 6.83

300-Meter Dash
1. Sam Amusan- 35.23

600-Meter Run
1. Abdullahi Hassan- 1:19.28
2. Colin Enz - 1:20.72
3. Austin Rendon - 1:21.02
5. Liam Belson- 1:22.50
6. Hudson Kugel- 1:23.19
8. Rhys Koch - 1:25.81

1000-Meter Run
1. Ansel Fellmen - 2:29.41
2. Nick Hruskoci - 2:30.49
3. Tannor Wagner - 2:31.27

3000-Meter Run
1. Bob Liking - 8:20.51
2. Conor Perreault - 8:28.14
4. Kavanaugh FitzPatrick - 8:39.19

60-Meter Hurdles
2. Peyton Frankenreider - 8.25
4. Davis Wenthe - 8.34
5. Max Herkert - 8.66

4x400-Meter Relay
1. Wisconsin - 3:18.44
(Wenthe, Belson, Enz, Kugel)

High Jump
1. George Ghafari - 6-4 3/4 (1.95m)
3. Max Herkert - 6-2 3/4 (1.90m)

Pole Vault
1. Canon Melstrand- 15-3 (4.65m)

Long Jump
2. Quinn Lansill - 21-1 1/2 (6.44m)

Shot Put
4. Jason Swarens - 49-10 (15.19m)

Weight Throw
2. Dan Ufearo- 62-10 1/2 (19.16m)
3. Cole Cooper - 59-8 1/3 (18.20m)
7. Jason Swarens - 52-2 1/2 (15.91m)