Five Things to Know: Badgers travel south to kick off outdoor season

UW competes in Tampa in two-day meet

Women's Track & Field March 17, 2025 Maddox Durst

Five Things to Know: Badgers travel south to kick off outdoor season

UW competes in Tampa in two-day meet

MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin women's track and field team kicks off the outdoor season with a trip to Tampa, Florida to compete in the USF Bulls Invite on Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22.

The meet is set to start at 9:00 a.m. CT on Friday, and 10:00 a.m. CT on Saturday. Fans can find the live results for the event, here. Those who can't make it in attendance can follow along with the @BadgerTrackXC socials with consistent updates on both Instagram and X.

1. LAST TIME OUT: The Badgers sent a pair of individuals to the NCAA Indoor Championships this past weekend in Taylor Kesner and Chloe Lindeman, both in the weight throw. Kesner emerged as the NCAA Indoor Champion in the event with a heave of 77 feet, 4 ¾ inches (23.50m), marking the first individual champion in the women's program since Alicia Monson did so in the 5000 meters back in 2019. Lindeman walked away with First-Team All-American honors via a sixth-place finish in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Kesner joined her in the process, tallying throws coach Dave Astrauskas' fifth national champion in his tenure at UW.

2. RECORDS ON RECORDS: By the conclusion of the indoor slate, eight athletes placed their name on UW's Indoor Top-10 list in the 2024-25 season in seven separate events. Emma Kelley emerged as one of the top middle distance runners in school history, placing second all-time in both the 600 and 800 meters. The aforementioned Kesner finished with the second-best weight throw performance in school history with her heave in Virginia Beach. The Badgers' DMR, which consisted of Mya Bunke, Emma Kruse, Leane Willemse and Kelley, ran the sixth-fastest relay in UW history at the Big Ten Indoor Championships with a time of 11:11.55 to highlight some of the top performances from the indoor season.

3. A LOOK BACK ON OUTDOORS: Last year, the Badgers finished ninth at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, highlighted by a first-place showing from Shaina Zinter in the Heptathlon. Wisconsin sent one athlete to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Olivia Roberts, who competed in the hammer throw.

4. HOME MEET ON DECK: The Badgers will host one meet this season, the Badger Invite, on Friday May 2 at the McClimon Track and Field Complex.

5. UP NEXT: Wisconsin will head to the west coast to compete in the Mangrum Invite, hosted by Cal State San Marcos on Friday, March 28. The meet is set to start at 8:00 a.m. CT.UW will also have athletes compete in Miami next week.

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Players Mentioned

Olivia Roberts: Throws; Graduate Student

Mya Bunke: Middle Distance; Senior

Emma Kelley: Middle Distance; Senior

Emma Kruse: Middle Distance; Freshman

Taylor Kesner: Throws; Senior

Chloe Lindeman: Throws; Graduate Student

Shaina Zinter: Multi Events; Junior

Players Mentioned

Olivia Roberts
: Graduate Student
: Throws

Mya Bunke
: Senior
: Middle Distance

Emma Kelley
: Senior
: Middle Distance

Emma Kruse
: Freshman
: Middle Distance

Taylor Kesner
: Senior
: Throws

Chloe Lindeman
: Graduate Student
: Throws

Shaina Zinter
: Junior
: Multi Events

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