Five Things to Know: Badgers head to four meets

Wednesday, April 23

Des Moines, Iowa

12:30 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

Drake Relays

Five Things to Know: Badgers head to four meets

April 21, 2025 | Women's Track & Field

UW set to compete at Penn Relays, more over the week

By: Maddox Durst

MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin women's track and field program gears up for their busiest week of the outdoor season, as they are prepared to compete at four separate meets from Wednesday, Apr. 23 to Saturday, Apr. 26.

The week is highlighted by the Badgers' traveling to the annual Drake Relays and Penn Relays, competing over multiple days at two of the top meets of the year. UW will also head to the Texas Invite and the Fighting Illini Twilight to nearly wrap up the regular season.

Fans can keep up with all of the action by checking out the women's track and field schedule on our website. Those looking to follow along on socials can take a look at the @BadgerTrackXC pages on X and Instagram for updates throughout the four days of action.

1. LAST TIME OUT: The Badgers accumulated numerous personal bests en route to a successful showing at the Bryan Clay Invitational out in Azusa, California. Kylie Finger and Emma Kruse each finished within the top-3 of their heats in the 1500 meters on Friday, Apr. 18—including a PR turned in by Kruse at four minutes, 28.39 seconds. Mya Bunke also tallied her fastest time of the season in the event—covering the distance in 4:21.39. Bella Jacobsen made a loud outdoor season debut, competing the 5000 meters and earning a personal best with a time of 16:13.47. Jacobsen ran her previous quickest time of the season last year at the Penn Relays.

2. HISTORY AT PENN: UW enjoyed a couple of standout performances at the Penn Relays last season—setting the school record in the 4x1500 meter relay with a time of 17:22.72. Leané Willemse is the lone returner from the relay, as she will look to lead the Badgers to another quality performance this week in the same event. She will be joined by Emma Kelley, Kylie Finger and Mya Bunke this time around, set to begin racing at 11:40 a.m. CT on Saturday.

3. RUHLY RISES UP: Shea Ruhly was the first Badger on the women's side this season to run in the 10,000 meters, placing 12th in her heat at the Bryan Clay Invitational this past week. With her time of 33:31.11, Ruhly advanced to No. 27 in the NCAA Division I West Region in the event. The Middleton native currently sits at No. 7 in the Big Ten for quickest time in the 10,000 meters—looking to make some noise in the postseason in just under a month from now.

4. KESNER'S EXCELLENCE CONTINUES: Taylor Kesner, the 2025 indoor national champion in the weight throw, has maintained her momentum as she enters the home stretch of the outdoor season. Kesner ranks in the top-10 in the Big Ten in both the discus and the javelin—inserting herself at No. 7 in each event. The Highland, Illinois native ranks third all-time in UW's Outdoor Track history in the javelin after her performance at the 44 Farms Team Invitational—turning in a toss of 168-2 (51.27m). She sits at No. 2 in school history in the discus after her throw from last season back in June.

5. UP NEXT: The Badgers get prepared to host their one home meet of the season on Friday, May 2 at the Badger Invite at the McClimon Track/Soccer Complex. Wisconsin is set to welcome in Marquette, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Northern Iowa and Northwestern (W). More information on the meet can be found with the link, here.