Friday, February 28
Indianapolis, IN
9:10 AM
Wisconsin Badgers
at
Big Ten Indoor Championships
Photo by: Suvir Grover
Five Things to Know: Badgers ready for Big Ten Championships
February 24, 2025 | Women's Track & Field
UW returns champions, newcomers to Big Ten stage this weekend
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin women's track and field program is back on the road, this time to compete in the Big Ten Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana on Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, March 1. The meet will get started on Friday at 9:10 a.m. CT, and resume at 9:15 a.m. CT on Saturday.
Fans looking to follow along with the meet can watch it live on Big Ten Plus for both days, or follow the live results with the link here. Viewers will also be able to check out live updates on the @BadgerTrackXC Instagram and X pages throughout the two days of action.
The meet schedule can be found here.
1. LAST TIME OUT: The Badgers put together one of their best weekends of the season between the Alex Wilson Invite and the Redbird Tune-up, hosted by Notre Dame and Illinois State, respectively. In Notre Dame, Leane Willemse and Kylie Finger each recorded a personal best in the mile—including Willemse's top-5 time of four minutes, 42.68 seconds. In Illinois State, Taylor Kesner took first in the weight throw and Zonica Lindeque earned gold in the shot put. Chikere Oduocha got her name in the NCAA rankings this past week, as she sits tied for 19th in the nation in the weight throw with her most recent heave of 70-1 (21.36m). Oduocha notched a personal best in the process—remaining ranked at No. 7 all-time in UW's Indoor Track history.
2. RETURN OF THE CHAMPIONS: Wisconsin earned a sixth-place finish as a team at the Big Ten Indoor Championships last season—returning multiple individual champions from last year's unit. Kiley Robbins turned in a school record 7.22-second 60 Meter dash at last year's event, winning the conference title. She will be back in action and attempting to defend her crown on Friday and Saturday. Joining her is the aforementioned Willemse, as the Mequon native was the champion of the 5000 meters in Geneva, Ohio last season.
3. TOP OF THEIR CLASS: After a successful weekend in Normal, Illinois, the throwers enter as one of the top units in not only the conference, but in the NCAA as the postseason gets underway. The group is anchored by Chloe Lindeman, who ranks at No. 2 in the Big Ten in the weight throw with a mark of 76-3 (23.24m). She is joined by Taylor Kesner and Oduocha in the top-10 of the Big Ten. For the entirety of the season, the Wisconsin weight throw unit has ranked at No. 1 in the country, according to the USTFCCCA. Danni Langseth and Lindeque have attained top-10 marks in UW history in the shot put—priming for a quality showing in Indianapolis this upcoming weekend.
4. A SEASON OF EXCELLENCE: Emma Kelley has emerged as one of the top middle distance runners in the Big Ten this season, putting together a historic indoor season for UW. Based on times, Kelley ranks just behind performances from Amy Wickus in the 600 and 800 meters in both 1994 and 1995. The Washington University (St. Louis) transfer has implemented herself in the top-10 in each event in the Big Ten, and will look to make a national push this upcoming week.
5. GOING THE DISTANCE: Mya Bunke and Shea Ruhly have each earned top-10 times in distance events leading up to the Big Ten Indoor Championships, as they will look to maintain their momentum on Friday and Saturday. Bunke recently turned in a mile time of 4:38.64 at the Wisconsin Windy City Invite to tie for eighth all-time at Wisconsin. At the beginning of the season, Ruhly finished her 5000 meters competition in 16:00.70 in Boston to kick off the season, also placing eighth all-time for the Badgers. Both runners will be back on the track this weekend in multiple distance events.
Up Next: Individuals from Wisconsin will compete in the NCAA Championships if they obtain a top-16 mark in the country on both Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The meet will be hosted at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
Fans looking to follow along with the meet can watch it live on Big Ten Plus for both days, or follow the live results with the link here. Viewers will also be able to check out live updates on the @BadgerTrackXC Instagram and X pages throughout the two days of action.
The meet schedule can be found here.
1. LAST TIME OUT: The Badgers put together one of their best weekends of the season between the Alex Wilson Invite and the Redbird Tune-up, hosted by Notre Dame and Illinois State, respectively. In Notre Dame, Leane Willemse and Kylie Finger each recorded a personal best in the mile—including Willemse's top-5 time of four minutes, 42.68 seconds. In Illinois State, Taylor Kesner took first in the weight throw and Zonica Lindeque earned gold in the shot put. Chikere Oduocha got her name in the NCAA rankings this past week, as she sits tied for 19th in the nation in the weight throw with her most recent heave of 70-1 (21.36m). Oduocha notched a personal best in the process—remaining ranked at No. 7 all-time in UW's Indoor Track history.
2. RETURN OF THE CHAMPIONS: Wisconsin earned a sixth-place finish as a team at the Big Ten Indoor Championships last season—returning multiple individual champions from last year's unit. Kiley Robbins turned in a school record 7.22-second 60 Meter dash at last year's event, winning the conference title. She will be back in action and attempting to defend her crown on Friday and Saturday. Joining her is the aforementioned Willemse, as the Mequon native was the champion of the 5000 meters in Geneva, Ohio last season.
3. TOP OF THEIR CLASS: After a successful weekend in Normal, Illinois, the throwers enter as one of the top units in not only the conference, but in the NCAA as the postseason gets underway. The group is anchored by Chloe Lindeman, who ranks at No. 2 in the Big Ten in the weight throw with a mark of 76-3 (23.24m). She is joined by Taylor Kesner and Oduocha in the top-10 of the Big Ten. For the entirety of the season, the Wisconsin weight throw unit has ranked at No. 1 in the country, according to the USTFCCCA. Danni Langseth and Lindeque have attained top-10 marks in UW history in the shot put—priming for a quality showing in Indianapolis this upcoming weekend.
4. A SEASON OF EXCELLENCE: Emma Kelley has emerged as one of the top middle distance runners in the Big Ten this season, putting together a historic indoor season for UW. Based on times, Kelley ranks just behind performances from Amy Wickus in the 600 and 800 meters in both 1994 and 1995. The Washington University (St. Louis) transfer has implemented herself in the top-10 in each event in the Big Ten, and will look to make a national push this upcoming week.
5. GOING THE DISTANCE: Mya Bunke and Shea Ruhly have each earned top-10 times in distance events leading up to the Big Ten Indoor Championships, as they will look to maintain their momentum on Friday and Saturday. Bunke recently turned in a mile time of 4:38.64 at the Wisconsin Windy City Invite to tie for eighth all-time at Wisconsin. At the beginning of the season, Ruhly finished her 5000 meters competition in 16:00.70 in Boston to kick off the season, also placing eighth all-time for the Badgers. Both runners will be back on the track this weekend in multiple distance events.
Up Next: Individuals from Wisconsin will compete in the NCAA Championships if they obtain a top-16 mark in the country on both Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The meet will be hosted at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
Players Mentioned
Middle Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Middle Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Middle Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field Mick Byrne Media Conference || Wisconsin Track & Field || May 8, 2023
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