Badgers kick off weekend of competition

Friday, April 16

Prairie View, Texas

Wisconsin Badgers

Husker B1G Invitational

Jordan Hirsbrunner finishes the 800 meters in the pentathlon.

Badgers kick off weekend of competition

April 16, 2021 | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field

Distance runners shine in Indiana; field events lead way in Texas

By: Diane Nordstrom

MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin men's and women's track and field teams opened their weekend competition at two different meets on Friday. The men's distance runners traveled to the B1G Invite #3 in Bloomington, Indiana, picking up five personal bests while the men's and women's sprinters and field event athletes competed at the Husker B1G Invitational in Prairie View, Texas.

Distance runners shine

Behind second-place finishers and NCAA automatic qualifiers Olin Hacker and Jackson Sharp, the Badger men had career days at the B1G Invite #3. Hacker finished second in the 5,000 meters, running a personal best time of 13 minutes, 52.96 seconds, ranking him second in the Big Ten. Sharp also ran a personal best, taking second in the 1,500 meters in 3:42.06, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten. Austin Rendon placed 10th in the 1500 meters, running a big personal best time of 3:47.07.

A pair of Badgers earned bronze medals as sophomore Seth Hirsch took third in the 10,000 meters in a personal best time of 28:49.48, the No. 3 time in the Big Ten this season. His time was also an NCAA qualifying mark. David Vannucchi took third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:22.01 while Kavanaugh FitzPatrick also competed in the steeplechase, finishing fifth in 9:27.58.

Sophomore Ansel Fellman and junior Tannor Wagner both ran personal bests in the 800 meters. Fellman finished fourth in 1:51.83 while Wagner placed seventh in 1:52.96.

Field events take center stage

At the Husker B1G Invitational, Wisconsin's field event athletes led the way on the first of two days of competition.

In the women's discus, sophomore Josie Schaefer finished second with a personal best throw of 177 feet, 4 inches, which moves her up to No. 3 on the UW outdoor performance list.

In the women's hammer throw, redshirt freshman Chloe Lindeman finished fourth with a toss of 184-11, which was a personal best and ranks her eighth on the Badger performance list. Redshirt freshman Olivia Roberts also competed in the hammer, finishing ninth at 175-3.

In the men's hammer, senior Dan Ufearo threw a personal best of 189-11, which ranks him seventh on the Badger performance list. Cole Hooper also competed in the hammer, taking seventh at 187-4.

In the only finals on the track, senior Bianca Stubler finished seventh in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:00.21 while freshman Davis Wenthe took ninth in the men's 400-meter hurdles in 53.21.

Three Badgers also qualified for Saturday's finals in their respective event. Sophomore Destiny Huven qualified for the final of the 100-meter hurdles, running the third fastest time of 14.00. In the 100-meter dash, freshman Kiley Robbins qualified for the finals of the women's race in 11.89, which was the seventh-fastest time, while in the men's dash, Lawrence Johnson qualified with the fifth-fastest time of 10.83.

Junior Jordan Hirsbrunner is also competing the women's heptathlon, sitting seventh after the first four events with 3,047 points. Hirsbrunner took third in the shot put at 38-0 and third in the 200-meter dash in 25.97.

Husker B1G Invitational

Women's Heptathlon
7. Jordan Hirsbrunner - 3,047 points
(100 Hurdles-9. Hirsbrunner, 14.99; High jump-T6. Hirsbrunner, 5-4 1/4; Shot put-3. Hirsbrunner, 38-0; 200 Meters-3. Hirsbrunner, 25.97)

Women's Hammer
5. Chloe Lindeman - 184-11 PR, #8
9. Olivia Roberts - 175-3

Women's Discus
2. Josie Schaefer - 177-4 PR #3

Women's 100 hurdles
3. Destiny Huven - 14.00Q

Women's 100 dash
7. Kiley Robbins - 11.89q

Women's 400-meter hurdles
7. Bianca Stubler - 1:00.21

Men's Hammer
4. Dan Ufearo - 189-11 PR #7
7. Cole Hooper - 187-4

Men's 100 dash
5. Lawrence Johnson - 10.83Q

Men's 400-meter hurdles
9. Davis Wenthe - 53.21

B1G Invite #3

Men's 800 meters
4. Ansel Fellman - 1:51.83 PR
7. Tannor Wagner - 1:53.96 PR

Men's 1500 meters
2. Jackson Sharp - 3:42.06 PR
10. Austin Rendon - 3:47.07 PR

Men's Steeplechase
3. David Vannucchi - 9:22.01
5. Kavanaugh FitzPatrick - 9:27.58

Men's 5000 meters
2. Olin Hacker - 13:52.96 PR

Men's 10,000 meters
3. Seth Hirsch - 28:49.48 PR