Wisconsin Badgers
Illini Deca-Jam
Five Things to Know: Wisconsin splits for two-meet weekend
April 08, 2026 | Women's Track & Field
Badgers prepare for a multi-day slate in Champaign and Platteville
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin women's track and field team will take a brief break from their California slate and remain in the Midwest this weekend, splitting between two meets: the Illini Deca Jam in Champaign, Illinois, and the UW–Platteville Invitational in Platteville, Wisconsin.
The distance crew will compete in Platteville, while the multi‑event athletes head to Champaign.
Competition at the Illini Deca Jam begins Thursday, April 9 at 12:30 p.m. CT and continues through Saturday afternoon.
The UW–Platteville Invitational will take place Friday and will feature six heats of the 5,000 meters, with the first heat scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT. Meet information and the tentative schedule are available here.
Fans can follow updates throughout the weekend on X and Instagram at @BadgerTrackXC.
1. FLYING FINGER: Graduate student Kylie Finger opened her final collegiate outdoor season with momentum last weekend at the Stanford Invitational. Finger finished runner‑up in her section of the 5,000 meters in 15:38.23, a time that moves her to No. 5 in program history. After earning top‑10 marks indoors in both the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters, she looks to carry that success into Friday's race.
2. GOING THE DISTANCE: The distance crew returns to action for its second outdoor meet following a strong opener at Stanford. Alongside Finger's standout performance, Leané Willemse placed inside the top ten of her section with a time of 15:50.43. In section 4, Bella Jacobsen led the Badgers with a fourth place finish in 16:22.27, while Sara Mlodik followed in seventh at 16:30.09.
3. KILLER KESNER: Taylor Kesner continues her strong start to the outdoor season after a standout indoor campaign that included a seventh place national finish in the weight throw. She has recorded back‑to‑back third place finishes in the discus and added a javelin victory earlier this spring.
4. MULTIS ON DECK: Shaina Zinter and Kyla Saleh will open their heptathlon seasons this weekend at the Illini Deca Jam. Thursday's schedule features the 100‑meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200 meters. The heptathlon concludes Friday with the long jump, javelin and 800 meters.
5. UP NEXT: The Badgers return to California next week for three meets: the Beach Invitational and Pacific Coast Invitational in Long Beach, and the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa. The Beach Invite runs Friday–Saturday, April 17–18. The Pacific Coast Invitational is a one‑day meet on Thursday, April 16, beginning at 10 a.m. CT. The Bryan Clay Invitational will be held April 16–18. Meet information and schedules are available at the links provided.
Players Mentioned
