Five Things to Know: Three Badgers set to compete in NCAA Outdoor Championships

Kelley, Kesner and Lindeman look to finish strong 2025 season

Women's Track & Field June 07, 2025 Maddox Durst

Five Things to Know: Three Badgers set to compete in NCAA Outdoor Championships

Kelley, Kesner and Lindeman look to finish strong 2025 season

MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin women's track and field program is set to wrap up the 2025 outdoor season by sending three athletes to the NCAA Outdoor Championships back at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Emma Kelley, Taylor Kesner and Chloe Lindeman are prepared to represent the Badgers, as they will be competing on both Thursday, June 12 and Saturday, June 14. Viewers can find all of the information for the meet by clicking on the link, here.

1. LAST TIME OUT: Wisconsin sent 12 athletes to compete at the NCAA West First Round, each putting together quality performances during the tail end of the 2025 season. The three aforementioned athletes finished within the top-12 of their events in order to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Zonica Lindeque notched a personal best in the discus with a heave of 174 feet, 2 inches (53.10m) to highlight some of UW's other competitors down at Texas A&M. Five Badgers on the women's team made their first appearance at the NCAA West First Round, including Lindeque.

2. DOUBLE THE FUN: Kesner enters the NCAA Outdoor Championships as the only athlete in the country to be competing in both the javelin and the discus. The Highland, Illinois, native has enjoyed the strongest season of her career, fresh off of a pair of personal bests at the NCAA West First Round. She tallied a mark of 171-10 (52.39m) in the javelin to kick off the weekend, moving up to No. 2 all-time in school history. Two days later, Kesner advanced to nationals in a second event with the help of a heave of 189-8 (57.83m), which also advanced her to No. 2 in UW's history. Kesner is coming off of an individual national championship in the indoor weight throw, and will look to cap off her season in Eugene on a high note. Kesner is set to battle in the javelin on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. CT and on Saturday at 7:40 p.m. CT in the discus.

3. THROWING DOWN IN TRACKTOWN: Lindeman is the second thrower in this group to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, the first time doing so in her legendary career as a Badger. The senior has tallied All-American honors on multiple occasions during the indoor season—including a First-Team All-American award this past indoor season in the weight throw. The Fulton, Illinois, native finished in sixth place in the hammer throw at the NCAA West First Round with a top toss of 212-0 (64.62m) to punch her ticket to Eugene. Lindeman shattered her own school record in the event twice over the course of this past month, each coming at the Badger Challenge and the Big Ten Outdoor Championships. She enters Hayward Field with a top mark of 222-9 (67.89m), which ranks her at No. 12 in the country.

4. EMMA TO EUGENE: In one season, Kelley has emerged as one of the top middle distance runners in program history, looking to secure more honors at the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 800 meters. Kelley recently turned in the quickest 800 meters in the past 30 seasons at Wisconsin, finishing her race in 2 minutes, 1.87 seconds at Texas A&M to qualify for nationals. The St. Louis native elevated to No. 2 all-time in school history with that time, while already holding top-10 spots in the outdoor 400 meters, in addition to the indoor 600 and 800 meters. She will be racing at 7:58 p.m. CT in the semifinals on Thursday. If Kelley qualifies for the championship race, the senior will compete on Saturday at 9:02 p.m. CT to wrap up a storied career on the track.

5. HOW TO WATCH: In addition to keeping track of updates on the @BadgerTrackXC social pages throughout the weekend, viewers can watch the live action on the ESPN family of networks. On Wednesday and Thursday, live coverage will begin on ESPN at 6:00 p.m. CT. For Friday, events will be televised on ESPN2 beginning at 7:30 p.m. CT, while Saturday's action will begin on ESPNU at 5:00 p.m. CT. All viewers can keep up with every event, including the trophy presentations on ESPN+ throughout the entirety of the weekend.

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Players Mentioned

Emma Kelley: Middle Distance; Senior

Taylor Kesner: Throws; Senior

Chloe Lindeman: Throws; Graduate Student

Zonica Lindeque: Throws; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Emma Kelley
: Senior
: Middle Distance

Taylor Kesner
: Senior
: Throws

Chloe Lindeman
: Graduate Student
: Throws

Zonica Lindeque
: Sophomore
: Throws

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