FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Wisconsin men's track and field junior Adam Spencer, sophomore Giovanni Wearing, freshman Andrew Casey and senior Jackson Sharp all booked their tickets to the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships on Friday during the NCAA West First Round at John McDonell Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
In the second track event of the day, Spencer toed the line in the 1500 meters and ran toward the front of the pack the entire race before ultimately finishing second in his section with a time of 3 minutes, 40.04 seconds to earn an auto-qualifier. The Australian national champion finished third in the entire field and will partake in his fourth track and field NCAA Championships next month in Eugene, Oregon.
Wearing got off the blocks strong in the 110-meter hurdles and ultimately picked up the auto-qualification mark, finishing third in his heat at 13.46. A native of Virginia, Wearing will become the first Badger since Nate Larkin in 2009 to compete in the 110 hurdles at the NCAA outdoor meet. The 2024 Big Ten runner-up will head to his first NCAA Championships, with next Wednesday's semi-final set for 7:32 p.m. CT.
In the 800 meters, Casey found himself in a stellar heat with Yusuf Bizimana of Texas, the 2022 NCAA indoor champion, and Iowa's Rivaldo Marshall, the 2024 NCAA indoor champion. Casey, a freshman, showed poise in the race, as he finished fourth in his section in a personal-best time of 1:47.41 to advance to the NCAA championships with a time-qualifying spot. Casey's time ranks seventh in school history and is the fastest-ever run by a UW freshman.
Sharp rounded out the afternoon in the 5000 meters, just three hours after he raced in the 1500 meters. The Australian hung toward the back of the pack for the first half of the race, before making a move over half of the field. He eventually took hold of the fifth-place spot and finished out the race in that position to earn the auto-qualifier. He took sixth overall with a time of 13:47.95 to book his fifth trip to the NCAA track championships. In the 1500 meters, Sharp finished 13th overall in 3:41.12, missing the qualifying mark by .03 seconds.
In the steeplechase, Ben Nibbelink capped off his Badger career with a 25th-place finish, finishing 10th in his section in 8:59.91. Big Ten Champion Logan Measner was in stellar position to advance to the national championships until he clipped a barrier with 1000 meters to go and was unable to finish the race.
Jake Schaefer concluded his sophomore campaign with a 31st-place showing in the men's discus with a mark of 175 feet, 5 inches (53.46m).
Straight from the Track
UW Director of Track and Field Mick Byrne: "The heat, humidity, and wind out there today was brutal," We haven't competed in those conditions all year, but despite this, our guys found a way to compete hard. To get four guys advancing to the NCAA Finals in Eugene is very exciting. Twelve months ago, Andrew Casey was in high school running 1:50 and now he's heading to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Gio (Wearing) was sensational in the 110 hurdles, as was Adam in the 1500 meters. What Jackson Sharp did out there today was heroic. He finished 13th and was the first guy out of qualifying in the 1500 meters, a heartbreaking spot. To come out three hours later and advance in the 5K in these conditions was just next level. I'm really proud of Jackson for believing in himself and putting it all out there. Unfortunately, Logan Measner missed out on Eugene after hitting a barrier around 2k into the steeplechase and was unable to finish. Logan will bounce back because he is Badger tough."
Up Next: Five UW men and one Badger woman will compete at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, June 5-8, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. On the men's side, Andrew Casey will race in the 800 meters, Adam Spencer will compete in the 1500 meters, Jackson Sharp will take part in the 5000 meters, Giovanni Wearing will compete in the 110 hurdles and Jason Swarens will throw the shot put. Olivia Roberts will represent the UW women in the hammer throw next Thursday.
NCAA West First Round
Friday, May 24, 2024
John McDonnell Field
Fayetteville, Ark.
Day 3 Results
800 Meters
6. Andrew Casey - 1:47.41 (Q), advances to NCAA Outdoor Championships, seventh-fastest time in school history
1500 Meters
3. Adam Spencer - 3:40.04 (Q), advances to NCAA Outdoor Championships
13. Jackson Sharp - 3:41.12
5000 Meters
6. Jackson Sharp - 13:47.95 (Q), advances to NCAA Outdoor Championships
110 Meter Hurdles
11. Giovanni Wearing - 13.46 (Q), advances to NCAA Outdoor Championships
Steeplechase
25. Ben Nibbelink - 8:59.91
DNF - Logan Measner
Discus Throw
31. Jake Schaefer - 175-5 (53.46m)
