Badgers track and field headed to Big Ten championships

(UW ATHLETICS) – The Wisconsin men’s track and field team will open postseason action with the 2026 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Friday-Sunday, at the Nebraska Outdoor Track in Lincoln Nebraska.

The meet opens on Friday at 10 a.m. with the women’s hammer throw while action on Saturday opens at 9:30 a.m. with the decathlon 110 hurdles. Sunday the meet will open at 10:10 a.m.  with the women’s triple jump.

Live results will be available on PTTiming while events will be streamed live on Big Ten Plus.  Fans can watch the action on Championship Sunday on Big Ten Network starting at 12:30 p.m.

1. LAST TIME OUT:UW closed out the regular season with standout performances at the Badger Challenge two weeks ago, highlighted by three all-time marks and numerous wins.

   Nathan Nelsonled the way in the field, winning the pole vault with a personal-best clearance of 17-1 3/4 (5.23m) to move into the program’s all-time top 10. In the javelin, Jacob Zednik claimed the title with a throw of 226-9 (69.11m), while Robin Ott followed in second at 216-7 (66.01m), a mark that ranks No. 6 in program history.

   On the track, Matan Ivri captured the 1500-meter win in 3:38.81, while Christian de Vaal tallied his first top 10 mark of the season in the 3000 meters with a time of 8:08.51.

2. BIG TEN FINALE FOR BYRNE:This week’s Big Ten Outdoor Championships marks the final conference meet for Director of Track and Field and Cross CountryMick Byrne, who announced his retirement last month. Byrne led UW to four Big Ten track titles and 14 Big Ten men’s cross country championships during his 18-year run in Madison.
3. NOT JOSHING AROUND:Sprinter Joshua Onwunili is enjoying a stellar sophomore year in Madison as he is ranked in the top-10 in the Big Ten in both the 100 and 200 meters. Onwunili ranks eighth in the 100 meters with a time of 10.13, while his time of 20.46 in the 200 meters is the second-best time. Onwunili last raced at the Penn Relays at the end of April, where he was second in the 100 meters.
4. MIGHTY MATAN:SophomoreMatan Ivri enters this weekend ranked in the top-12 in a pair of events. His time of 3:38.15 is the 11th-fastest time in the 1500 meters this year in the conference, while his mark of 13:23.11 in the 5K is the third-best time in the Big Ten. Ivri is coming off of a stellar Big Ten Indoor Championships as he was second in both the 3000 and 5000 meters.
5. UP NEXT:Following the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, UW will turn its attention to the NCAA West First Round, May 27-30, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The NCAA will announce selected athletes next week.