Thursday, January 22
Champaign, IL
11:00 AM
Wisconsin Badgers
at
Fighting Illini Challenge and Combined Events
Jones II, Schmeling Open Heptathlon at Illini Invitational
January 22, 2026 | Men's Track & Field
Badgers sit fourth and sixth after day one of combined events
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Wisconsin men's track and field team opened competition at the Fighting Illini Invitational and Combined Events on Thursday, highlighted by strong day-one performances from freshman duo Darius Jones II and Jack Schmeling in the heptathlon.
Jones II sits in fourth place after four events with 3195 points, while Schmeling holds sixth with 2,790 points heading into the final day of competition.
Jones II got the day started with a win in the 60 meters, clocking a time of 6.98 seconds. Schmeling followed closely, finishing seventh in 7.24. In the long jump, Jones II added a fifth-place finish with a mark of 23 feet, 2 ¾ inches (7.08 meters), while Schmeling placed seventh at 19-10 ¼ (6.05 meters).
The Badgers continued to trade strong efforts in the shot put, where Schmeling recorded a fourth-place throw of 43-9 ¾ (13.35 meters). Jones II followed in sixth with a mark of 40-9 ½ (12.43 meters). Both athletes closed day one in the high jump, as Jones II cleared 6-8 ¼ (2.04 meters) to place third and Schmeling finished fifth with a clearance of 6-2 ¼ (1.89 meters).
Up next: The heptathlon concludes on Friday with competition resuming at 11:30 a.m. in Champaign.
Fighting Illini Invitational and Combined Events
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Champaign, Illinois
Results
Heptathlon (Day One)
4. Darius Jones II, 3195
6. Jack Schmeling, 2790
60 Meters (Heptathlon)
1. Darius Jones II, 6.98
7. Jack Schmeling, 7.24
Long Jump (Heptathlon)
5. Darius Jones II, 23-2 ¾ (7.08m)
7. Jack Schmeling, 19-10 ¼ (6.05m)
Shot Put (Heptathlon)
4. Jack Schmeling, 43-9 ¾ (13.35m)
6. Darius Jones II, 40-9 ½ (12.43m)
High Jump (Heptathlon)
3. Darius Jones II, 6-8 ¼ (2.04m)
5. Jack Schmeling, 6-2 ¼ (1.89m)
Jones II sits in fourth place after four events with 3195 points, while Schmeling holds sixth with 2,790 points heading into the final day of competition.
Jones II got the day started with a win in the 60 meters, clocking a time of 6.98 seconds. Schmeling followed closely, finishing seventh in 7.24. In the long jump, Jones II added a fifth-place finish with a mark of 23 feet, 2 ¾ inches (7.08 meters), while Schmeling placed seventh at 19-10 ¼ (6.05 meters).
The Badgers continued to trade strong efforts in the shot put, where Schmeling recorded a fourth-place throw of 43-9 ¾ (13.35 meters). Jones II followed in sixth with a mark of 40-9 ½ (12.43 meters). Both athletes closed day one in the high jump, as Jones II cleared 6-8 ¼ (2.04 meters) to place third and Schmeling finished fifth with a clearance of 6-2 ¼ (1.89 meters).
Up next: The heptathlon concludes on Friday with competition resuming at 11:30 a.m. in Champaign.
Fighting Illini Invitational and Combined Events
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Champaign, Illinois
Results
Heptathlon (Day One)
4. Darius Jones II, 3195
6. Jack Schmeling, 2790
60 Meters (Heptathlon)
1. Darius Jones II, 6.98
7. Jack Schmeling, 7.24
Long Jump (Heptathlon)
5. Darius Jones II, 23-2 ¾ (7.08m)
7. Jack Schmeling, 19-10 ¼ (6.05m)
Shot Put (Heptathlon)
4. Jack Schmeling, 43-9 ¾ (13.35m)
6. Darius Jones II, 40-9 ½ (12.43m)
High Jump (Heptathlon)
3. Darius Jones II, 6-8 ¼ (2.04m)
5. Jack Schmeling, 6-2 ¼ (1.89m)
Players Mentioned
Multi-Events
/ Men's Track & Field
Multi-Events
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