Five Things to Know: Badgers split for two meets over weekend

Friday, April 11

College Station, Texas

12:00 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

44 Farms Team Invitational

Shaina Zinter prepares for the javelin throw.

Photo by: AJ Harrison

Five Things to Know: Badgers split for two meets over weekend

April 09, 2025 | Women's Track & Field

UW set to compete in College Station, Platteville

By: Maddox Durst

MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin women's track and field program returns to competition this weekend at both the 44 Farms Team Invitational and UW-Platteville Invitational on Friday, Apr. 11 and Saturday, Apr. 12.

Viewers looking to keep up with live results from the 44 Farms Team Invitational with the link, here. Those seeking to keep up with the UW-Platteville Invitational can do so with this link. Fans can follow along on both Instagram and X with updates on Friday and Saturday from the @BadgerTrackXC pages.

1. LAST TIME OUT: The Badgers were back on the West Coast at the Stanford Invitational in California, taking on multiple distance events over the course of the weekend. Leane Willemse paced the unit in the 5000 meters, advancing to No. 6 all-time in UW's Outdoor Track history with a time of 15 minutes, 47.05 seconds to place 14th in the fastest section of the event. Mya Bunke and Emma Kruse each attained a personal best in the 1500 meters, including a finishing time of 4:22.98 for Bunke on the track. Kruse earned a top-5 finish in her section of the 800 meters by covering the distance in 2:11.

2. AN EARLY PEAK: UW's women's track and field unit has made some early noise in the outdoor season in setting new personal bests—including multiple marks in Wisconsin's Outdoor Track history. The aforementioned Willemse moved to No. 6 all-time in the 5000 meters after previously inserting herself at No. 7. Last weekend, Zonica Lindeque powered her way to a first-place finish in two separate events at the Mangrum Invite, highlighted by a personal best in the shot put. Lindeque emerged with the seventh-farthest mark in school history in the event at 52-0 ¾ (15.87m). Emma Kelley finished with a top-10 mark in the 800 meters as well, setting up at No. 7 with a time of 2:03.89.

3. KELLEY IS BACK: Emma Kelley recently enjoyed a strong indoor season for the Badgers, as the St. Louis, Missouri native currently ranks inside the top-10 in the nation in the 800 meters after nearly a month of action in the outdoor scene. Kelley's aforementioned time of 2:03.89 places her ninth in the country—including a fourth-place mark in the NCAA Division I West qualifying list. The senior has inserted herself into the record book in her first season as a Badger, and will be back to competing this weekend down at the 44 Farms Team Invitational in Texas.

4. NEW RECRUITS ON THE BLOCK: The Badgers recently welcomed in an assortment of recruits in their 2025 class, highlighted by both Wisconsin natives and international athletes. Thea Kral, Luciana Aizpurua, Allyson Armstrong, Bella Grenier and Nicole Repka each reside in the Badger State and will be joining the program next fall. Milla Roberts and Vasiliki Samolada are a pair of international student-athletes who will each be making their way to Madison as well, as Roberts competes in the distance while Samolada specializes in throws.

5. UP NEXT: Wisconsin is set to return to California next week, this time in Azusa to compete in the annual Bryan Clay Invitational between Wednesday, Apr. 16 and Friday, Apr. 18.