Five things to know: Badgers head South for NCAA West First Round

Wednesday, May 28

College Station, TX

10:00 AM

Wisconsin Badgers

NCAA Outdoor First Round

Gio Wearing, Big Ten Outdoor 110 Hurdles Champion

Photo by: Dani Savin

Five things to know: Badgers head South for NCAA West First Round

May 25, 2025 | Men's Track & Field

Badgers continue postseason campaign

By: Dani Savin

MADISON, Wis. – 17 members of the Wisconsin men's track and field team will head to Texas A&M this week to compete in the NCAA West First Round. The men will compete on Wednesday, May 28 and Friday, May 30.

The meet will stream live on ESPN+ at E.B. Cushing Track Stadium.

1. B1G WINS: Jason Swarens, Adam Spencer and Gio Wearing won Big Ten Outdoor titles. A native of Terre Haute, Indiana, Swarens led the competition, completing the sweep of Big Ten indoor and outdoor titles with a toss of 67 feet, 4 ½ inches (20.53 meters). Senior Adam Spencer anchored the Badgers in the 1500 meters, winning his fifth Big Ten title after crossing the line to a time of 3:53.18. Minutes after Spencer's win, Gio Wearing dove at the line to claim the 110 hurdles in a season-best 13.46, edging Iowa's Kai Graves-Blanks to score 10 more points for UW.

2. TALLYING THROWS: Joseph White secured second in the discus with a 196-2 throw, solidifying his legacy at Wisconsin, while Jake Schaefer placed eighth. Cole Hooper earned points in the hammer with a PR of 216-11, ranking fifth in school history, and Jacob Zednik added two more points with a seventh-place javelin finish at 224-5.

3. DEEP DISTANCE: Continuing their distance dominance, the Badgers scored 21 points in the 5000 meters, led by Bob Liking's runner-up finish in a season-best 13:32.47. Freshman Matan Ivri earned his first Big Ten podium in third, while Rowen Ellenberg and Christian de Vaal placed fifth and sixth with personal bests in a field of 37. UW picked up five more points in the 800 meters, with Andrew Casey finishing fifth in 1:48.54 and Patrick Hilby taking eighth in 1:49.24.

4. CONSISTENT CONTENDERS: Several Badgers enter the First Round among the top athletes in the country. Adam Spencer holds the No. 1 ranking in the West Region in the 1500 meters, while Jason Swarens also tops the charts in the shot put. Joseph White is ranked fourth in the shot put and sixth in the discus, showcasing his versatility. In the 400 meters, Jalen Williams ranks 12th as does Jacob Zednik in the javelin.

5. UP NEXT: The top 12 athletes in each event will qualify for the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held June 11–14 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.