Wisconsin Badgers
Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Seniors lead Badgers on opening day of Big Tens
May 15, 2026 | Women's Track & Field
Willemse, Kesner earn top-8 finishes, Finger advances to Sunday’s final
LINCOLN, Neb. - The Wisconsin women's track and field team wrapped up the opening day of the 2026 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Nebraska Outdoor Track, led by a trio of seniors in Taylor Kesner, Leane Willemse and Kylie Finger.
Kesner scored UW's first points of the meet, finishing eighth in the javelin with a toss of 162 feet, 5 inches (49.51m). The 2025 NCAA weight throw champion will be back in action on Sunday in the discus at 10:45 a.m.
Willemse paced the Badgers in the final event of the day, the 10,000 meters as the senior finished in sixth in 33 minutes, 54.98 seconds. Sara Mlodik was 12th in 35:18.48 and Bella Jacobsen placed 15th in 35:35.47.
Finger ran the second-fastest time in the 1500 meters, winning her section in 4:16.70. She stayed in the front of her race for a majority of the competition before earning a .12 second win over Nebraska's Berlyn Schutz. Finger will race in the 1500 final on Sunday at 12:58 p.m.
Morgan Flaska and Nora Skoraczewski each earned top-20 finishes in the hammer throw, throwing 179-9 (54.80m) and 177-0 (53.97m), respectively.
Lily Hamacher ran a personal-best in the 400 hurdles of 1:00.01, finishing 17th in the event.
In the 200 meters, Sydney Robinson led the way with a time of 24.00 seconds.
In the heptathlon, Kyla Saleh did not finish the first day of action while Shaina Zinter only participated in the shot put, where she had a personal-best throw of 38-8 ¼ (11.79m).
Up Next: The Badgers continue action at the 2026 Big Ten Outdoor Championships on Saturday as the decathlon will resume with the 110 hurdles at 9:30 a.m. CT. Fans can follow along via live results through PTTiming and watch the action on Big Ten Plus.
2026 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Friday, May 15, 2026
Lincoln, Nebraska
200 Meters (Prelims)
23. Sydney Robinson - 24.00
26. Luciana Azipurua - 24.29
27. Catalina Sanchious - 24.48
28. Rachel Robinson - 24.63
1500 Meters (Prelims)
2. Kylie Finger - 4:16.70 Q
26. Mya Bunke - 4:32.92
10,000 Meters (Final)
6. Leane Willemse - 33:54.98
12. Sara Mlodik - 35:18.48
15. Bella Jacobsen - 35:35.47
Mikaela Helling - DNF
400 Hurdles (Prelims)
17. Lily Hamacher - 1:00.01
Hammer Throw (Final):
17. Morgan Flaska - 179-9 (54.80m)
19. Nora Skoraczewski - 177-0 (53.97m)
Javelin (Final)
8. Taylor Kesner - 162-5 (49.51m)
Heptathlon Total (Day 1)
11. Shaina Zinter - 647
Kyla Saleh - DNF
Heptathlon 100 Hurdles
10. Kyla Saleh - 14.68
Shaina Zinter - DNF
Heptathlon High Jump
Kyla Saleh - NH
Shaina Zinter - NH
Heptathlon Shot Put
3. Shaina Zinter - 38-8 ¼ (11.79m)
Kyla Saleh - DNS
Heptathlon 200 Meters
Kyla Saleh - DNS
Shaina Zinter - DNF
