MADISON, Wis. – The 17th-ranked Wisconsin women's track and field team continued its indoor season on Friday. Multi-event athletes and jumpers competed at the Illini Challenge in Champaign, Illinois, while all other events completed day one of the Indiana Relays in Bloomington, Indiana. 

The Badgers won three events and recorded numerous personal bests on day one of the weekend's competition.

Zinter, Heyroth shine in pentathlon

Senior Mackenzie Heyroth and freshman Shania Zinter competed alongside each other in the five events that make up the pentathlon. Zinter made an impressive debut in the multi-event, finishing third with 3,839 points. Her total ranks ninth on the UW all-time performance list and is the top performance by a Badger freshman. Heyroth finished right behind her teammate in fourth place with 3,764 points.

Zinter started the day, tying Heyroth for third place in the pentathlon 60-meter hurdles in 8.76 seconds. Zinter wrapped up the day by winning the pentathlon 800 meters in a personal best of 2:16.19. She also placed eighth in the pentathlon high jump with a personal best clearance of 5 feet, 2 1/2 inches, seventh in the pentathlon shot put at 36-9 3/4, and fourth in the pentathlon long jump at 17-8 1/4. 

Heyroth's best event finishes came in the pentathlon high jump (5-5) and pentathlon shot put (38-0 3/4), where she finished third.

Armoni Brown also earned a third-place finish in the long jump at 18-1. 

DMR, Lindeman and Ruhly win events at Indiana

Wisconsin entered two squads in the distance medley relay, earning two top-three finishes. 

The quartet of Madison Mooney, Maggie Munson, Kylie Finger, and Lucinda Crouch crossed the finish line first in 11:28.21. The team of Victoria Heiligenthal, Danielle Bellino, Mya Bunke, and Emma Watcke finished third in 11:35.60.

Junior Chloe Lindeman continues her strong season, winning the weight throw at 72-9 ¾. Olivia Roberts placed fourth with a throw of 65-11 ½ while Chikere Oduocha took seventh with a personal best of 61-9 ¾. Redshirt freshman Asia Rave placed eighth with a toss of  60-2 ½. 

The Badgers dominated the 5,000 meters with six athletes finishing in the top 10.

Junior Shea Ruhly crossed the line in 16:16.62 for the event win. She was followed by senior Samantha Stieve, who finished second in a personal best time of 16:29.12. Alexa Westley was the fourth runner to cross the finish line as she came in at 16:35.77. Leane Willemse was close behind with her new personal best of 16:37.68 for fifth place. Danielle Orie and Heidi Heuerman rounded out Badger finsihers with seventh and ninth-place finishes in 16:48.54 and 17:14.89, respectively.

Senior Taylor Gilling had a good day in the sprints, finishing fifth in the 200 meters in 24.81 and qualifying for the final of the 60 meters, winning her heat in 7.64. Freshman Sydney Robinson took seventh in the 200 meters in 25.15 while her twin sister, Rachel, qualified for the finals of the 60 meters after finishing seventh in 7.73.

Up Next

The Badgers continue their competition at the Illini Challenge tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. Competition at the Indiana Relays begins at 9:45 a.m. CT on Saturday.

Final Results

Illini Challenge 

Pentathlon
3. Shaina Zinter - 3,839 pts.
4. Mackenzie Heyroth - 3,764 pts.

Pentathlon 60 meter hurdles
3. Mackenzie Heyroth- 8.76
3. Shaina Zinter- 8.76

Pentathlon 800 meters
1. Shaina Zinter- 2:16.19
5. Mackenzie Heyroth- 2:25.28

Pentathlon High Jump
T3. Mackenzie Heyroth- 5-05
8. Shaina Zinter- 5-2 ½ 

Pentathlon Long Jump
4. Shaina Zinter- 17-8 ¼
9. Mackenzie Heyroth- 17-1 ½ 

Pentathlon Shot Put
3. Mackenzie Heyroth- 38-0 ¾
7. Shaina Zinter- 36-9 ¾

Long Jump
3. Armoni Brown- 18-1

IU Relays

Weight Throw
1. Chloe Lindeman - 72-9 3/4
4. Olivia Roberts - 65-11 1/2
7. Chikere Oduocha - 61-9 3/4
8. Asia Rave - 60-2 1/2
10. Abby Peeler - 59-5
12. Danni Langseth - 56-8 ¾

60 meters
3. Taylor Gilling- 7.64 Q
7. Rachel Robinson- 7.73q
11. Sydney Robinson-7.84

Distance Medley
1.  Mooney, Munson, Finger, and Crouch - 11:28.21
3.  Heiligenthal, Bellino, Bunke, and Watcke - 11:35.60

5000 meter
1. Shea Ruhly - 16:16.62
2. Samantha Stieve - 16:29.12 PR
4. Alexa Westley - 16:35.77
5. Leane Willemse - 16:37.68 PR
7. Danielle Orie - 16:48.54
9. Heidi Heuerman - 17:14.89

200 meter
5. Taylor Gilling- 24.81
7. Sydney Robinson- 25.15
24. Rachel Robinson- 26.27