COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Wisconsin men's track and field trio of Cole Hooper, Jason Swarens and Joseph White earned top-12 finishes on Wednesday at the 2025 NCAA West First Round to qualify for the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. 

HAMMER TIME
The first Badger to punch their ticket to Eugene was senior Cole Hooper in the hammer throw. The Cumberland, Rhode Island, native launched the hammer 216 feet, 7 inches (66.03 meters) to finish eighth in the competition.

Hooper was second in the third flight of the event and then had to wait for the fourth and final flight to officially advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the first time in his career.

"It was a stressful day, I thought I needed a little bit more to get in," Hooper admitted. "I did what I needed to. Watching that last flight was exciting and I'm just really happy I made it though. I am ready to go have some fun in Eugene and stretch the season out a little bit longer."

Hooper will compete on Wednesday, June 11 at 3:30 p.m. CT. 

DYNAMIC DUO ADVANCE TO NCAA'S
The Badgers shot put squad made a powerful statement at the NCAA West First Round as White and Swarens both qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. 

White's best toss came on his final throw of the competition, as he launched the shot 65-2 ¼ (19.87m). The 2024 NCAA Division III Champion in the shot put, White will make his outdoor national championship debut on Wednesday, June 11 at 8:10 p.m. CT. 

"I'm excited," White said. "It's my first time going to an outdoor NCAA Division I national championship and I'm excited for how things are going."

The Big Ten indoor and outdoor champion in the shot put, Swarens took third at the NCAA West First Round with a mark of 64-11 ½ (19.80m). 

"It feels good to be returning to the NCAA Championships," Swarens said "I'm going to do everything in my power to throw as best as I can in Eugene."

Swarens looks to build on his last performance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field as the Terre Haute, Indiana, native was runner-up at last year's national meet. 

Andrew Stone came close to joining White and Swarens in Oregon next month, but the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, native finished 16th with a toss of 61-6 1/4 (18.75m). It marked Stone's final time competing for the Cardinal and White as he earned two All-America honors in the ring for UW. 
 
FOUR ADVANCE TO FRIDAY
A quartet of Badgers advanced to the next round of action on Friday in Adam Spencer (1500 meters), Jalen Williams (400 meters), Andrew Casey (800 meters) and Patrick Hilby (800 meters).

Spencer advanced to Friday's quarterfinal of the 1500 meters by winning his section in 3 minutes, 50.24 seconds to automatically qualify. The 2024 Olympian was towards the front of the pack the entirety of his race. He will compete on Friday at 5:15 p.m. 

Willliams took sixth in the first round of the 400 meters, automatically qualifying for the quarterfinal with a time of 45.75. The school record holder will compete on Friday at 6:50 p.m.

Rounding out the UW qualifiers on Wednesday were Casey and Hilby in the 800 meters. Both Badger underclassmen earned automatic qualifying spots based off their finishes in their sections.

Casey was second in his section in 1:48.16 while Hilby was runner-up in 1:48.57. The duo will race on Friday at 7:05 p.m. CT. 

Jacob Zednik took 23rd in the javelin with a toss of 215-4 (65.64m) while Giovanni Wearing was 42nd in the 110 hurdles after unfortunately clipping the first few hurdles. 

UP NEXT: The UW women will open up action at the NCAA West First Round on Thursday, beginning with the women's hammer throw at 10 a.m. CT. The Badger men will wrap up action on Friday as the first event is the men's discus at 1 p.m. 

NCAA West First Round
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
E.B. Cushing Stadium 
College Station, Texas

400 Meters
6. Jalen Williams, 45.75 Q

800 Meters
10. Andrew Casey,  1:48.16 Q
18. Patrick Hilby, 1:48.57 Q

1500 Meters 
12. Adam Spencer, 3:50.24 Q 

110 Hurdles
42. Giovanni Wearing, 14.34

Shot Put
2. Joseph White, 65-2 ¼ (19.87m)
3. Jason Swarens, 64-11 ½ (19.80m)
16. Andrew Stone, 61-6 ¼ (18.75m)

Hammer 
8. Cole Hooper, 216-7 (66.03m) 

Javelin
23. Jacob Zednik, 215-4 (65.64m)