Five things to know: Badgers head to Hoosier State

Friday, January 16

Bloomington, IN

2:30 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

Indiana Invitational

Five things to know: Badgers head to Hoosier State

January 14, 2026 | Men's Track & Field

Select sprinters, hurdlers and throwers are set to compete in Indiana on Friday and Saturday

By: Dani Savin

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin men's track and field team heads to Bloomington, Indiana, to compete in the Indiana Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Field events begin at 2:30 p.m. CT on Friday, with running events to follow at 4 p.m. Competition resumes at 8:45 a.m. Saturday.

Fans can follow the action on X and Instagram @BadgerTrackXC and can find a recap following the meet at UWBadgers.com.

SPRINTERS SHINE: Sophomore Joshua Onwunili led the way in sprints at the Badger Midwest Invite, capturing the 60 meters title in 6.87 seconds. Senior Jalen Williams and freshman Micah Walker kept the momentum strong in the 300 meters, where the pair went 1-2 with Williams winning in 34.10 and Walker finishing just behind in 34.32. Capping off a strong day for the sprint squad, Zion Omotesa won the 600 meters with a personal-best 1:18.15.

VAULTING TO THE TOP: Junior Nathan Nelson opened his 2026 indoor track campaign with a personal best clearance of 16 feet, 6.75 inches (5.05m), taking second in the pole vault. Darius Jones Jr. finished third with a clearance of 15-7 (4.75m) before racing to second place in the 60-meter hurdle finals with a time of 8.21.

DYNAMIC DUO: Patrick Hilby and Andrew Casey return to the track in 2026 after strong performances in the mile at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Casey led the way for the Badgers, clocking a personal-best time of 4 minutes, 0.37 seconds to finish third overall in the deep field. Hilby followed close behind, running 4:01.53 for sixth, giving Wisconsin two top-six finishes to start the season.

RETURN TO BLOOMINGTON: The Badgers return to the Indiana Invitational for the first time in more than a decade this weekend, marking their first appearance in Bloomington since the 2023 IU Relays. In that meet, Giovanni Wearing claimed gold in the 60-meter hurdles with a winning time of 8.11 seconds.

UP NEXT: The Badgers will compete at two sites next weekend, splitting between Philadelphia and Champaign, Illinois. Wisconsin will send athletes to the Penn Elite meet Jan. 22-23, while others will take part in the Fighting Illini Challenge and Combined Event from Jan. 22-24.