Record-breaking Badgers
Six school records have track and field ready for Big Ten Championships
2/19/2023
BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
It was a performance for the ages, one Mick Byrne never thought he’d see surpassed during his time as director of men’s and women’s cross country and track and field at Wisconsin.
During the annual Alex Wilson Invitational indoor meet in February of 2022, Byrne looked on as his distance medley relay unit of Adam Spencer, Colin Enz, Abdullahi Hassan and Jackson Sharp set the school record of 9 minutes, 23.85 seconds.
“I thought when we ran 9:23, that was it,’’ Byrne said. “I thought that’s the fastest I’d see.’’
The mark stood for all of 364 days.
That same foursome was clocked in 9:19.99 during the same meet on Saturday in South Bend, Indiana. Not only did it set the UW standard, it established a Big Ten Conference mark and is the fifth-best performance on the all-time world list behind Oklahoma State (9:16.40), Washington (9:16.65) and Oregon (9:19.42 and 9:19.98).
Spencer ran 2:49.0 in the 1,200-meter leg, Enz was timed in 46.3 in the 400-meter slot, Hassan clocked in at 1:46.5 in the 800 and Sharp ran the 1,600-meter anchor leg in 3:57.9.
“It’s crazy,’’ Byrne said.
That performance capped a wildly successful preparation period for the Badgers heading into the Big Ten Conference Indoor Championships Friday and Saturday in Geneva, Ohio, and the NCAA meet starting March 10 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
UW women have set four school records this season: Kiley Robbins in the 60 meters (7.29 seconds), Destiny Huven in the 60-meter hurdles (8.08), Chloe Lindeman in the weight throw (78-0) and Josie Schaefer in the shot put (61-0¼).
Their performances have them sitting in excellent position to win a Big Ten title this weekend or at least place well. Huven leads the list of all Big Ten performers in the hurdles while Lindeman and Schaefer both rank second in their respective events. Robbins ties for sixth in the 60 meters.
In addition to the DMR record, Lawrence Johnson ran 6.54 in the 60 meters on the men’s side. His time leads all Big Ten performers this season by a tenth of a second.
Those showings, coupled with a host of personal bests, have the Badgers thinking about Big Ten titles. The men are looking for their first since 2014. The women last won a conference indoor crown in 1997.
“We’re talking about something we haven’t talked about in quite a while,’’ Byrne said. “We’re in the hunt for the team title we think. Obviously, everything has to go our way, but we’re in the hunt and that’s exciting.’’
Byrne lauded the upperclassmen who have led the way.
“Very excited and happy for the kids,’’ he said. “With things the way they are today, so many kids can just jump in the (transfer) portal and leave and these kids stuck with us, and believed in what they were doing. They’re getting their rewards now for the work they’re putting in.’’
UW has gotten top-shelf efforts across the board, from sprints and hurdles to weight events and the distance specialists, which means Byrne has gotten a lot quality work from assistants Kareem Jackson (sprints, hurdles), Dave Astrauskas (throws), Nate Davis (pole vault, high jump, multi-events), Aaron Watson (middle distance) and Lindsay Crevoiserat (women’s distance).
“Some incredible performances,’’ Byrne said. “A great team effort by the coaching staff.’’