MADISON, Wis. — Two current Badgers and four former Wisconsin track and field standouts competed at the 2023 World Athletics Championships to highlight action for the Badgers over the nine-day competition in Budapest, Hungary.
Adam Spencer got things started as he grabbed a big qualifying mark in the opening round of the men's 1500 meters thanks to a third-place finish in his heat. The Australian native crossed the line in 3 minutes 34.17 seconds to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinal round, Spencer finished 13th in his heat with a time of 3:42.10, wrapping up his 2022-23 campaign on the world stage. Spencer finished third in the 1500 meters at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships and set the school record in the 1500 meters of 3:31.81 at the Diamond League London event in July.
Badger legend Alicia Monson competed in the 10,000 and 5,000-meter races at the World Championships. Monson, a 2020 Wisconsin graduate, began her stretch in the 10K, finishing fifth in 31:32.29. Monson returned to the track a couple of days later, competing in the 5K, taking a 14th-place finish in 15:04.04.
Former Badger Mohammed Ahmed had an impressive performance for Canada in his first event of the week, in the 10,000 meters, striding to a sixth-place finish at 27:56.43. Ahmed was back competing a couple of days later in the 5,000 meters alongside former Badger and four-time NCAA champion Morgan McDonald. In the semi-finals, Ahmed finished third in 13:33.16, and McDonald came in 16th with a time of 13:43.58. Ahmed competed in the 5K final, finishing seventh in 13:12.92.
Badger Abdullahi Hassan also represented Canada and the Wisconsin track and field program at the World Athletics Championships, placing fifth in his heat in the 800-meter with a time of 1:46.33. Hassan finished second earlier this year in the 800 at the Canadian National Championships and was fourth at the NCAA outdoor meet in the event.
2016 NCAA heptathlon champion Zach Ziemek competed in the decathlon, earning 3,529 points over four events before dropping out of competition due to injury. Ziemek started his day with a fifth-place finish with a season-best time of 10.58 seconds in the 100-meter dash. Followed with another season-best performance in the long jump, covering a distance of 25 feet, 0 inches for a seventh-place finish. The shot put was next, with Ziemek finishing fifth with a throw of 50 feet, 6 inches. The final event the former Badger competed in was the high jump, finishing 11th, clearing 6 feet, 6 ¼ inches.
2023 World Athletics Championships
August 19-27
National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary
Saturday, Aug. 19 Results
Men's 1500 meters (Heats)
5. Adam Spencer - 3:34.17 Q
Women's 10,000 meters Final
5. Alicia Monson - 31:32.29
Sunday, Aug. 20 Results
Men's 1500 meters Semi-final
27. Adam Spencer - 3:42.10, 13th in heat
Men's 10,000 meters Final
6. Mohammed Ahmed - 27:56.43
Tuesday, Aug. 22 Results
Men's 800 meters (Heats)
22. Abdullahi Hassan - 1:46.33, 5th in heat
Wednesday, Aug. 23 Results
Women's 5,000 meters Semi-final
15. Alicia Monson - 15:03.35 Q
Thursday, Aug. 24 Results
Men's 5,000 meters Semi-final
3. Mohammed Ahmed - 13:33.16, 3rd in heat Q
32. Morgan McDonald - 13:43.58, 16th in heat
Friday, Aug. 25 Decathlon Results
Decathlon 100 Meters
6. Zach Ziemek - 0.58 Season Best
Decathlon long jump
1. Ziemek - 25-0
Decathlon shot put
2. Ziemek - 50-6
Decathlon high jump
3. Ziemek - 6-6 ¼
Total points after four events - Ziemek, 3,529 points
Saturday, Aug. 26 Results
Womens 5,000 meters Final
14. Alicia Monson - 15:04.04
Sunday, Aug. 27 Results
Men's 5,000 meters Final
7. Mohammed Ahmed - 13:12.92
