MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women's track and field team kicked off their weekend by competing in two meets Saturday afternoon, as several athletes made their 2024 outdoor debuts. Select throwers, sprinters, jumpers, and multis traveled to Baton Rouge for the Battle of the Bayou, while several distance runners competed at the Stanford Invitational.
Three athletes set new personal best marks to highlight the first day of competition.
West coast Badgers
Graduate student Victoria Heiligenthal got things started for the Badgers on the first day of competition in California, bringing home a win in the 5000 meters. The Milford, Michigan native crossed with a time of 16 minutes, 22.87 seconds in her first career outdoor 5000-meter race. Grad transfer Carolyn Shult competed in her first race as a Badger, finishing sixth in the 5,000 meters, with a personal best time of 16:28.13.
Graduate student Madison Mooney made her 2024 outdoor track debut with a second-place finish in section two of the 1500-meter race, crossing in 4:15.95. Two Badgers grabbed top-five finishes in section four of the 1500 meters, as Leane Willemse finished fourth and Maya Rayle came in fifth. Willemse finished with a time of 4:24.45, while Rayle came in right behind her in 4:26.11. Mya Bunke also competed in the 1500 meters, finishing 12th at 4:34.03.
Badgers battle in the bayou
Olivia Roberts highlighted the day in Baton Rouge as she finished third in the hammer throw with a personal best toss. The graduate student threw for 208 feet, 10 inches(63.67m), which ranks her No. 9 in Division I this season and holds her mark as second on UW's all-time list in the event. UW also saw three other athletes place in the top-10 on Friday, as Asia Rave and Danni Langseth went back-to-back with their sixth and seventh-place finishes, respectively. Rave threw for a distance of 185-2 (56.44m), with Langseth following with a throw of 181-2 (55.23m). Chikere Oduocha rounded out the top 10, with a ninth-place finish throwing for a distance of 172-2 (5249m).
Abby Peeler rounded out throwers, finishing 14th with a mark of 161-4 (49.18m).
Two Badgers ran personal best times, which earned them top-10 school marks on the first of the competition in Louisiana. Shaina Zinter took 11th in the 400-meter hurdles with a personal best time of 59.49 seconds, ranking her ninth on UW's all-time list. Kiley Robbins also earned herself a personal best time in the 200 meters of 23.92, which moved her up to No. 5 on UW's all-time list.
Up Next
The Badger women will be back competing at the Battle on the Bayou tomorrow. Field events begin at 10:00 a.m., and running events start at 1:05 p.m.
Select women will also compete in the 800 meters tomorrow at the Standford Invitational at 3:30 p.m. CT
Final Results
Battle of the Bayou
Friday, March 29, 2024
Bernie Moore Track Stadium
Baton Rouge, LA
200 meters
21. Kiley Robbins - 23.92 PR
50. Maddie Hogan - 26.54
51. Kyla Saleh - 27.03
400-meter hurdles
11. Shaina Zinter - 59.49 PR
19. Karina Janik - 1:02.85
Long jump
14. Elissa Perkins - 18-2 ¼ (5.54m)
Hammer throw
3. Olivia Roberts - 208-10 (63.67m) PR
6. Asia Rave - 185-2 (56.44m)
7. Danni Langseth - 181-2 (55.23m)
9. Chikere Oduocha - 172-2 (5249m)
14. Abby Peeler - 161-4 (49.18m)
Javelin throw
17. Shaina Zinter - 117-7 (35.84m)
19. Mackenzie Heyroth - 115-5 (35.18m)
22. Maddie Hogan - 100-8 (30.70m)
Stanford Invitational
Friday, Mach 29, 2024
Cobb Track and Angell Field
Palo Alto, Cali.
1500 meters
Section 2
2. Madison Mooney - 4:15.95
Section 4
4. Leane Willemse - 4:24.45
5. Maya Rayle - 4:26.11
12. Mya Bunke - 4:34.03
5000 meters
1.Victoria Heiligenthal - 16:22.87
6. Carolyn Shult - 16:28.13 PR
