Wisconsin Badgers
Big Ten Indoor Championships
Sharp and DMR crowned champions as Badgers lead Big Tens after Day 1
February 23, 2024 | Men's Track & Field
UW leads Nebraska by eight points heading into Saturday at The Spire
The distance medley relay won in an instant classic, outlasting Michigan by .01 seconds as UW won in 9 minutes, 43.95 seconds. Benjamin Nibbelink turned in a strong opening leg, followed by Elliot Harris in the 400-meter section. Abdullahi Hassan stormed ahead of the pack in the 800-meter leg and ultimately passed the baton to school record holder Adam Spencer, who shut the door in the final laps.
Jackson Sharp was the individual champion on the day, winning the 5000 meters in 13:56.28 seconds. Bob Liking, the three-time Big Ten Cross Country Champion, finished as the runner-up at 13:56.28. Micah Wilson earned key points for the Badgers with a gritty seventh-place finish at 14:11.0.
A host of events had qualifiers for Saturday's finals. Adam Spencer cruised through the mile, earning the fastest qualification time in 4:06.54. Joe dosReis trailed close behind, finishing third and qualifying at 4:06.83.
Freshman Andrew Casey enjoyed a standout performance after qualifying for the 800-meter final with a personal best of 1:48.91. His time is good for No. 9 on the UW top-10 list. School record holder Abdullahi Hassan also qualified in the event, following behind Casey at 1:49.14.
Wisconsin saw strong performances on the sprints side thanks to Giovanni Wearing and Jalen Williams. Wearing continues to have a dominant sophomore campaign as he was the top qualifier in the 60-meter hurdles at 7.68, setting a personal best and putting him in contention for the NCAA Championships. Wearing remains in the third spot on the program's top-10 list. Williams ran a personal best in the 400 meters at 47.11, earning qualification to Saturday's final.
In the final field event of the day, Jason Swarens and Cole Hooper picked up points for UW in the weight throw, competing in a loaded field. Swarens finished fourth in the event, posting a season-best of 70 feet, 1 ¾ inches (21.38m). Hooper took sixth with a season-best of his own, recording a mark of 67-2 (20.47m).
Hunter Cook earned two points for the Badgers as he placed seventh in the pole vault with a season-best of 16 feet, 10 inches (5.13m).
Multi-event athletes competed in the first half of events on Day 1 and were led by Cade Amborn, who finished runner-up at last year's Big Tens. Amborn currently sits in third with 3,253 points, while Quinn Lansill is in seventh with 2,854 and Lucas Heyroth in eighth with 2,849. Amborn had a huge day in the high jump as he won the event with a leap of 6-8 ¾ (2.05m). He finished second in the shot put with a mark of 49-0 ¼ (14.94m) and fourth in the long jump at 23-0 ¾ (7.03m).
Straight From the Track
UW Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne
"I think we had a great day on both sides. We made a big deal about athletes doing their best, getting PRs or season bests. That's all you can ask for as a coach and lots of kids did that today. We're a couple of points up on what we predicted at the start of the day, and that's exciting. We're in a great position going into Day 2 and have to keep it going."
Up Next: The second day of the Big Ten Indoor Championships starts Saturday at 10:00 a.m CT. with the heptathlon 60-meter hurdles. Track events begin with the mile final at 12:30 p.m. CT. Fans can watch live on B1G + and follow @BadgerTrackXC on social media.
Big Ten Indoor Championships
The Spire
Geneva, Ohio
Friday Results
Team Standings
1. Wisconsin - 40 points
2. Nebraska - 32 points
3. Indiana - 26.33 points
4. Rutgers - 21 Points
5. Michigan - 19 points
6. Illinois - 17.5 points
7. Michigan State - 11 points
8. Penn State - 10.5 points
9. Iowa - 9 points
10. Ohio State - 8.33 points
11. Purdue - 0.33 points
60-meter Prelims
16. Sam Amusan - 6.85
400-meter Prelims
7. Jalen Williams - 47.11 (q), PR
Mile Prelims
1. Adam Spencer - 4:06.54 (q)
3. Joe dosReis - 4:06.83 (q)
8. Pierce Seigne - 4:08.69
18. Bryce Stachewicz - 4:16.83
800 meters Prelims
5. Andrew Casey - 1:48.91 (q), PR
6. Abdullahi Hassan - 1:49.14 (q)
5000 meters
1. Jackson Sharp - 13:56.28
2. Bob Liking - 13:56.28
7. Micah Wilson - 14:11.00
60-meter hurdles
2. Giovanni Wearing - 7.68 (q), PR
DMR
1. B.Nibbelink, E. Harris, A. Hassan, and A. Spencer - 9:43.95
Pole vault
7. Hunter Cook - 16-10 (5.13m), SB
Weight Throw
4. Jason Swarens - 70-1 ¾ (21.38m), SB
6. Cole Hooper - 67-2 (20.47m), SB
Heptathlon
Standings after day one
3. Cade Amborn - 3253
7. Quinn Lansill - 2854
8. Lucas Heyroth - 2849
60 meters
9. Quinn Lansill - 7.20
10. Cade Amborn - 7.25
11. Lucas Heyroth - 7.28
High jump
1. Cade Amborn - 6-8 ¾ (2.05m)
6. Quinn Lansill - 6-2 ¾ (1.90m)
11. Lucas Heyroth - 5-11 ¼ (1.81)
Long jump
4. Cade Amborn - 23-0 ¾ (7.03m)
5. Lucas Heyroth - 22-2 ¼ (6.76m)
11. Quinn Lansill - 21-0 ½ (6.41m)
Shot put
2. Cade Amborn - 49-0 ¼ (14.94m)
7. Lucas Heyroth - 42-10 ¼ (13.06m)
9. Quinn Lansill - 41-8 ½ (12.71m)
Players Mentioned
