There are 17 University of Wisconsin men’s track and field athletes set to compete in the NCAA West First Round in College Station, Texas.
Many fared well at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, and their scores there or other events in the outdoor season led them to qualifying scores or times to compete for spots at the next round. Men’s competition begins on Thursday.
Here’s what to know about the Badgers men moving on to the national level.
Adam Spencer
What to know: Adam Spencer is the top-ranked 1,500-meter racer in the NCAA, based on times throughout the season.
Spencer finished first in the conference meet with a time of 3 minutes, 53.18 seconds. The Australian Olympian also finished runner-up at the 2025 Australian National Championships in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:34.57 (April 12). He placed second in the NCAA in the event last year, and will look to claim gold this time around.
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Jason Swarens
What to know: Jason Swarens is, like teammate Spencer, the top-ranked athlete in the NCAA in his event.
Swarens didn’t even have his best day in Eugene, but won the conference title in the shot put with a heave of 67-4 ¼. His personal record, which is also the Badgers’ program record, came in the Badger Challenge during the season. He reached 70-1 ½.
Giovanni Wearing
Event: 110-meter hurdles
What to know: Giovanni Wearing earned the Big Ten title in the 110 hurdles in Eugene, clocking 13.46.
He qualified for the same event at the the NCAA Championships, finishing 10th in the first round.
Joseph White
What to know: Joseph White, a Kenosha native, qualified for two events.
He threw the discus 196-2 in the conference championship meet, placing second. His mark of 203-8 earlier this season is the school record.
White also qualified in the shot put. He finished behind teammate Swarens, going 58-8 ¾ to finish 12th in the Big Ten. His best score of the year is 66-8 ½.
Jake Schaefer
What to know: Jake Schaefer placed eighth at the conference meet, throwing 183-9.
Schaefer’s best throw (187-8) came at the Augustana Penultimate Qualifier.
Nick Gilles
What to know: Nick Gilles put up an 8:47.40 mark in the 3,000 steeplechase, good for eighth place.
The redshirt freshman’s best time of the season came when he clocked 8:38.91 at the Penn Relays.
Jalen Williams
What to know: Jalen Williams ended his time in Eugene with a second-place finish in the 400 at 45.61.
He owns the school record in the 400 with a time of 45.49. He was named 2025 NCAA first-team All-American in the distance medley relay during the indoor season.
Andrew Casey
What to know: Andrew Casey earned a fifth-place finish in the 800 in Eugene, finishing in 1:48.54.
Though it was not offered at the Big Ten meet, Casey is the school record holder in the sprint medley with a time of 3:16.69.
Patrick Hilby
What to know: Patrick Hilby followed behind Casey in the 800 (1:49.24) and placed eighth in the conference.
The freshman won the 800 meters with a time of 1:47.89 at the Badger Challenge earlier in the season.
Bob Liking
What to know: Wisconsin had perhaps the best overall showing at the 5,000 than of any individual event at the Big Ten meet.
Bob Liking led the way, finishing in 13:32.47 to take second. He was in sixth at about the halfway point but sped up near the end to claim silver.
Matan Ivri
What to know: Matan Ivri finished the 5,000 in Eugene with a time of 13:33.79, placing close behind Liking in third.
Among Ivri’s accomplishments is his second-place standing on the all-time list of Israeli-born 5,000 runners.
Rowen Ellenberg
What to know: Rowen Ellenberg was the third Badgers athlete to cross the line at the Big Ten 5,000, and his time of 13:35.61 was good for fifth overall.
That performance comes a few months after he finished 154th overall at the NCAA Championships in cross country on Nov. 23, covering the 10,000-meter course in 30:16.9.
Christian de Vaal
What to know: Christian de Vaal (13:35.97) placed sixth in the Big Ten in the 5,000.
He’s proven some skill in the event, having taken third in the Big Ten Indoor Championships earlier this year.
Johnny Livingstone
What to know: Johnny Livingstone didn’t run the 5,000 in Eugene, opting instead to race in the 10,000, where he finished 11th.
However, he’s proven some strength in the shorter of the two races, placing fifth in the 5,000 with a time of 13:36.18 at the Penn Relays.
Cole Hooper
What to know: Cole Hooper is one of several talented throwers for the Badgers, having placed eighth in Eugene with a hammer throw mark of 216-11.
That throw beat his previous mark of 216-5, which was fifth all-time in Badgers history.
Jacob Zednik
What to know: Jacob Zednik’s mark of 224-5 in the javelin at the Big Ten meet was good for seventh.
Zednik’s best throw of the season came at the Texas Invite, where he reached 231-3. That was good for second on the Badgers’ all-time list.
Andrew Stone
What to know: Andrew Stone’s long period of talent in the shot put continued with a sixth-place finish in Eugene, marking 61-9.
His personal record is 65-6 ¼, and his best mark of this outdoor season came when he took third at the Texas Invite with a toss of 63-0 ¼.
Photos: Best shots of Serah Williams during her impressive career at Wisconsin
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams looks to shoot over UCLA’s Angela Dugalic during a Big Ten Conference game on Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Wisconsin forward Serah Williams shoots over UCLA’s Lauren Betts during a Big Ten Conference game on Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams looks for room to shoot over Northwestern’s Caileigh Walsh during a Big Ten Conference game on Feb. 23 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams makes a bounce pass during a Big Ten Conference game on Feb. 9 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Wisconsin forward Serah Williams looks to shoot over Illinois’ Kendall Bostic during a Big Ten Conference game on Feb. 9 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams blocks a shot by Southern Cal’s Kik Iriafen during a Big Ten Conference game on Feb. 5 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Wisconsin forward Serah Williams tries to shake Southern Cal’s Rayah Marshall during a Big Ten Conference game on Feb. 5 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Wisconsin forward Serah Williams tries to shoot over Michigan’s Olivia Olson during a Big Ten Conference game on Jan. 29 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams shoots over Ohio State’s Ajae Petty during a Big Ten Conference game on Jan. 16 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams attempts a layup against Maryland’s Christina Dalce during a Big Ten Conference game on Jan. 11 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams shoots over Minnesota’s Sophie Hart during a Big Ten Conference game on Dec. 31 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Wisconsin forward Serah Williams shoots over UAlbany’s Kayla Cooper (20) and Gabriela Falcao during a nonconference game Dec. 20 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams shoots over Rutgers’ Chyna Cornwell during a Big Ten Conference opener at the Kohl Center on Dec. 8 in Madison.

Wisconsin forward Serah Williams scores over a pair of Omaha defenders during a nonconference game Nov. 23.
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams euro steps past a Wright State defender for a layup during the first half of a nonconference season opener on Nov. 5 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Badgers forward Serah Williams shoots the ball in the second half of the Super 16 round in the WNIT tournament on March 28, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Badgers forward Serah Williams shoots the ball against the Indiana Hoosiers in the second half Feb. 14, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Wisconsin sophomore forward Serah Williams fights for a loose ball against Penn State’s Ali Brigham during a Big Ten Conference game Feb. 11, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams drives to the basket past Iowa center Sharon Goodman during the first half of a game Jan. 16, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa.
Wisconsin Badgers forward Serah Williams reacts after getting the layup and forcing a foul in the first half Dec. 10, 2023, at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Wisconsin sophomore forward Serah Williams celebrates after finishing a layup through contact during Sunday afternoon’s nonconference game Dec. 3, 2023, against Butler at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Wisconsin Badgers forward Serah Williams goes in for a layup against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in the third quarter Nov. 14, 2023 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Wisconsin Badgers forward Serah Williams shoots the ball against South Dakota State Jackrabbits forward Brooklyn Meyer in the fourth quarter Nov. 14, 2023 at the Kohl Center in Madison.