FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Thanks to a top-12 finish in the hammer throw at the NCAA West First Round on Friday, Wisconsin women’s track and field senior Olivia Roberts advanced to the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to highlight action for the Badgers on Thursday at John McDonnell Field.
A senior from Plymouth, Minnesota, Roberts uncorked a 202-foot, 7 inches toss (61.75 meters) on her second attempt to finish 10th overall in the region. Roberts is set to appear in her third NCAA Championships after earning All-American honors in the weight throw during the 2023 and 2024 indoor seasons.
In addition, Roberts’ stellar showing, a trio of Badgers advanced to Saturday finals in upperclassmen Kiley Robbins, Maddie Mooney and Victoria Heiligenthal.
Robbins claimed her spot in the 100-meter quarterfinals. Robbins finished second in her heat with a wind-aided time of 11.12 seconds, finishing with the eighth-fastest time in the preliminary round. She will compete on Saturday at 6:35 p.m.
Mooney took second in her section of the 1500 meters, crossing the line in 4:19.54 to move on to Saturday. Heiligenthal grabbed one of the four time-qualifying spots, as her time of 4:20.44 was the 18th-fastest time ran on Thursday.
Kylie Finger made her NCAA West First-Round debut in the 1500 meters, finishing 39th in 4:29.99.
In the shot put, sophomore Danni Langseth set a personal best with a distance of 54-6 3/4 (16.63m). Her mark is the sixth farthest put in school history as she ultimately finished 21st in the region.
Three Badgers ran in the 10,000 meter semifinals on Thursday in Lexi Westley, Carolyn Shult and Shea Ruhly. Westley, a native of New Jersey, ran her final collegiate race and finished 20th in the region in 34:59.41. Ruhly trailed just one pack behind as she came in with a group of runners, finishing 31st at 35:18.40. Shult led another group behind Ruhly placing right behind her teammate in 32nd at 35:32.54.
Sophomore Asia Rave also competed in the hammer throw, making her NCAA West First Round debut. She finished 35th in the region with a distance of 181-4 (55.29m).
Straight from the Track
Senior Olivia Roberts
On advancing to Eugene: “I’m really thrilled. This is my first year qualifying for outdoor nationals. It’s my final season, so it’s just a great way to finish off my throwing career. I’m…
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