The Wisconsin men's track team won five events at the Badger Open Saturday - its final competition before the Big Ten Championships - and the men's distance medley relay ran the second fastest time in the NCAA this season in Boston, Mass.
The relay team of James Groce, Evan Jager, Jack Bolas and Brandon Bethke qualified for nationals with the fifth fastest all-time Wisconsin effort of 9 minutes 33.29 seconds at the USA Indoor Championships. Bethke passed Oregon's anchor in the mile leg of the relay to put UW slightly ahead of the Ducks, who went 9:34.06.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team competed against UW-La Crosse, UW-Whitewater, Beloit and unattached individuals including UW alumni in Madison.
Senior Adam Pischke won the 60-meter hurdles going 8.12 seconds, a personal best.
Sophomore Rory Linder took the 35-pound weight throw title by throwing 54 feet, 3 1'4 inches - one foot better than the second-place competitor.
Wisconsin went 1-2 in the 600-meter run, with sophomore Zach Beth winning in 1:20.21 to edge out junior teammate Joe Pierre, who went 1:20.35.
In the 3,000-meter run, junior Stu Eagon faced two former teammates and out-kicked UW alum Tim Nelson by a tenth of a second, going 8:12.39.
Also winning for UW was sophomore Rayme Mackinson who came out on top in the long jump, hitting 23 feet, 9 1/2 inches.
Women's recap
The Wisconsin women's track team swept eight events at the Badger Open Saturday, finishing first, second and third in four contests - the 60-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash, 3,000-meter run and the high jump.
Freshman Kayla McClendon captured the 60-meter hurdle win in 8.99 seconds with junior teammate Lindsey Biel right behind at 9.05 seconds.
In the 200-meter dash, sophomore Alexis Beecham took first in 25.61 seconds, followed by sophomore Angel Eggleston and senior Alex McCannel at 25.90 and 25.91 seconds, respectively.
Kaitlyn Marsolek took first in the 400-meter dash in 57.95 seconds for a season best.
Freshman Karlye Wolff won the mile in 5:06.01, edging out sophomore Maggie Collison, who went 5:06.17.
UW also dominated the 3,000-meter run, with junior Ashley Benson and senior Amanda Ganser 1-2, going 10:07.00 and 10:07.04, respectively.
Freshman Tressa Beckel won the high jump due to fewest misses over freshman Kate Flood and senior Jess Stoltenberg, who all cleared 5 feet 4 1'2 inches.
UW took first in all the jumps, with senior Michelle Bellford going 39 feet, 3 3'4 inches for the win in the triple jump and senior Venus Washington at 18 feet, 8 1'2 inches in the long jump.
Men's track is gearing up to host the Big Ten championships this weekend, while the women's team will take on conference rivals at Minnesota.
