FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Thanks to a top-12 finish in the hammer throw at the NCAA West First Round on Friday, Wisconsin women's track and field senior Olivia Roberts advanced to the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to highlight action for the Badgers on Thursday at John McDonnell Field.
A senior from Plymouth, Minnesota, Roberts uncorked a 202-foot, 7 inches toss (61.75 meters) on her second attempt to finish 10th overall in the region. Roberts is set to appear in her third NCAA Championships after earning All-American honors in the weight throw during the 2023 and 2024 indoor seasons.
In addition, Roberts' stellar showing, a trio of Badgers advanced to Saturday finals in upperclassmen Kiley Robbins, Maddie Mooney and Victoria Heiligenthal.
Robbins claimed her spot in the 100-meter quarterfinals. Robbins finished second in her heat with a wind-aided time of 11.12 seconds, finishing with the eighth-fastest time in the preliminary round. She will compete on Saturday at 6:35 p.m.
Mooney took second in her section of the 1500 meters, crossing the line in 4:19.54 to move on to Saturday. Heiligenthal grabbed one of the four time-qualifying spots, as her time of 4:20.44 was the 18th-fastest time ran on Thursday.
Kylie Finger made her NCAA West First-Round debut in the 1500 meters, finishing 39th in 4:29.99.
In the shot put, sophomore Danni Langseth set a personal best with a distance of 54-6 3/4 (16.63m). Her mark is the sixth farthest put in school history as she ultimately finished 21st in the region.
Three Badgers ran in the 10,000 meter semifinals on Thursday in Lexi Westley, Carolyn Shult and Shea Ruhly. Westley, a native of New Jersey, ran her final collegiate race and finished 20th in the region in 34:59.41. Ruhly trailed just one pack behind as she came in with a group of runners, finishing 31st at 35:18.40. Shult led another group behind Ruhly placing right behind her teammate in 32nd at 35:32.54.
Sophomore Asia Rave also competed in the hammer throw, making her NCAA West First Round debut. She finished 35th in the region with a distance of 181-4 (55.29m).
Straight from the Track
Senior Olivia Roberts
On advancing to Eugene: "I'm really thrilled. This is my first year qualifying for outdoor nationals. It's my final season, so it's just a great way to finish off my throwing career. I'm really excited and looking forward to competing against the best of the best one more time; it will be a great celebration."
Up Next: Day 3 of the NCAA West First Round kicks off Friday at 10:00 a.m. as seven UW men look to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Jacob Schaefer will get the day going in the discus throw semifinals at 10 a.m. , followed by a break until track events begin at 2:15 p.m where Adam Spencer and Jackson Sharp get set to toe the line in the 1500 meters. They're followed by Logan Measner and Benjamin Nibbelink in the steeplechase at 2:40 p.m. Giovanni Wearing (110 meter hurdles) and Andrew Casey (800 meters) will compete at 3:15 p.m. and 4:05 p.m., respectively. Sharp will wrap up action for the Badgers in the 5000 meters at 5:15 p.m. All seven will be looking to finish among the top 12 in their respective events to advance to the national championships.
The UW women have five individual athletes challenging for the right to advance to the NCAA Championships when they compete on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m.
NCAA West First Round
Thursday, May 23, 2024
John McDonnell Field
Fayetteville, Ark.
Day 2 Results
100 Meters
8. Kiley Robbins - 11.12 (Q), wind-aided
1500 Meters
11. Maddie Mooney - 4:19.54 (Q)
18. Victoria Heiligenthal - 4:20.44 (q)
39. Kylie Finger - 4:29.99
10,000 Meters
20. Lexi Westley - 34:59.41
31. Carolyn Shult - 35:18.40
32. Shea Ruhly - 35:32.54
Shot Put
21. Danni Langseth - 54-6 ¾ (16.63m), PR, sixth in school history
Hammer Throw
10. Olivia Roberts - 202-7 (61.75m), advances to NCAA Championships
35. Asia Rave - 181-4 (55.29m)
