ROSEMONT, Ill. – All-American heptathlete Melissa Wullschleger was named the women’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday (June 18). Wullschleger is the women’s program’s eighth Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the first in 13 years since Olympic medalist Ashley Spencer last won the award in 2012.
“Melissa’s growth throughout the season was incredible and the Big Ten made the right pick for this award,” said director of track, field and cross country Petros Kyprianou. “From a seventh-place finish at the Big Ten indoor meet to fourth place and All-American at the NCAA outdoor meet; I’m tremendously proud of her and her accomplishments. It was no accident; she’s one of the hardest workers on the team and takes coaching extremely well. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for her in this program!”
Wullschleger recently finished fourth in the heptathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a program record 5,928 points. Her fourth-place finish tied the program’s highest finish in the event with Carmel Corbett who was also the last Illini heptathlon All-American in 1996. Additionally, Wullschleger is the program’s third-ever All-American heptathlete.
Prior to her All-America honors she placed fourth at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in her first collegiate heptathlon with a score of 5,749 points. She finished seventh in the pentathlon at the Big Ten Indoor Championships with the program’s fourth-best score 3,984 points.
The Olten, Switzerland native used the program’s third-best javelin throw, 44.20m (145-0), at the NCAA Outdoor Championships to help propel her into All-American status.
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