MINNEAPOLIS – Behind three individual champions, the Wisconsin men's track and field team finished third at the Big Ten Conference Outdoor Championships, its best finish since 2014, on Sunday.

The Badgers crowned champions in the 800 meters (Abdullahi Hassan), 1500 meters (Adam Spencer) and 5,000 meters (Olin Hacker) to score 90 points.

Ohio State won the team title with 124 points while defending champion Iowa finished second with 103 points.

"There are no easy points handed out at the Big Ten Championships. You have to fight for every point," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne. "I'm extremely proud of our men and women who competed hard all weekend. Our athletes were competing this weekend with heavy, but inspired hearts. They all competed for and with Sarah (Shulze).

"Both teams scored 90-plus points, well above our projected scores. Both distance squads put up big points in the 10k,5k and women's steeplechase, but it was our sprinters, multi-events and throwers who really stepped up and gave us much needed points."

Hassan, Spencer and Hacker win individual titles

The Badgers picked up three individual titles on Sunday, including first-time winners Abdullahi Hassan and Adam Spencer

With 100 meters remaining, Hassan was in fifth place in the 800 meters before strategically making his way through the field for the win. The sophomore finished in 1 minute, 52.05 seconds, just .18 seconds ahead of runner-up Cole Johnson of Michigan.

"I definitely came in here knowing that I could (win) and I pulled it off," said Hassan. "I'm really confident heading into NCAA (preliminary) rounds and hopefully will make it to nationals."  

Spencer was in great position heading into the final lap of the 1,500 meters, sitting in third with 400 meters to go. The freshman moved up to second with 200 meters remaining before kicking past the field to cross in 3:52.43. Spencer finished  .37 seconds ahead of Jonathan Davis of Illinois, who took second. Badger teammate Jackson Sharp finished sixth in the race in 3:53.55.

"I was really happy to get the win," said Spencer. "It was a big confidence booster. I've got regionals in about a week and a half, and then hopefully do well in that and have nationals in a couple of weeks."

A Badger led nearly the entire 5,000-meter race as Seth Hirsch set the pace early on. The senior had a nearly 50-meter lead for much of the race but it was a Hacker-led pack that cut into his lead and caught up with the Badgers with just 400 meters to go. Hacker kicked past the field and comfortably won his third Big Ten title of the year, crossing in 14:08.82.

Behind Hacker, four Badgers scored as sophomore Bob Liking finished third in 14:10.57. Sophomore Rowen Ellenberg came in fifth in 14:13.39 while Hirsch took sixth in 14:15.44. Sophomore Jack Meijer just missed scoring, crossing in 14:25.03 for 10th place.   

Johnson picks up two bronze medals

Junior Lawrence Johnson earned two third-place finishes on Sunday, taking third in the 100 meters and third in the 200 meters. The Waunakee native ran a personal best of 10.12 but his time was wind-aided so it won't move him up to second on the UW performance list. Johnson's time ties him for 22nd on the this season's NCAA performance list.

Johnson also earned a bronze medal in the 200 meters, running a personal best time of 20.49. His time would have been a school record but was wind-aided so will not count as the record.

Other scorers

Wisconsin also earned two fourth-place finishes.

Sophomore Davis Wenthe finished fourth in the 400-meter hurdles in 51.61 and was also a member of the fourth-place 4x400-meter relay. Wenthe teamed with Colin Enz, Elliott Harris and Hassan to combine for a 3:10.32 clocking after entering the meet unranked.

Up Next

Qualifiers travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the NCAA West Preliminary Round on May 26-28.

Team scores

1. Ohio State - 124
2. Iowa - 103
3. Wisconsin - 90
4. Nebraska - 82
5. Minnesota - 73
6. Michigan - 70
7. Penn State - 61
8. Indiana - 56
9. Purdue - 51
10. Michigan State - 38
    Rutgers - 38
12. Illinois - 17.5
13. Maryland - 15.5

100 meters
3. Lawrence Johnson - 10.12  

200 meters
3. Lawrence Johnson - 20.49

800 meters
1. Abdullahi Hassan - 1:52.05

1500 meters
1. Adam Spencer - 3:52.43
6. Jackson Sharp - 3:53.55

5000 meters
1. Olin Hacker - 14:08.82
3. Bob Liking - 14:10.57
5. Rowen Ellenberg - 14:13.39
6. Seth Hirsch - 14:15.44
10. Jack Meijer - 14:25.03

400-meter hurdles
4. Davis Wenthe - 51.61

4x100-meter relay
10. Wisconsin - 42.30
(Robby Hatch, Colin Enz, Davis Wenthe, Elliott Harris)

4x400-meter relay
4. Wisconsin - 3:10.32
(Davis Wenthe, Colin Enz, Elliott Harris, Abdullahi Hassan)

High jump
11. Cade Amborn - 6-8 3/4

Pole vault
T16. Chandlar Ifft - 15-11
T18. Canon Melstrand - 15-11

Triple jump
13. Connor Barfknecht - 48-2
19. Peyton Frankenreider - 46-6

Discus
13. Jason Swarens - 169-5
20. Andrew Stone - 155-5

Javelin
11. Jacob Zednik - 185-5