We’re already halfway through the NCAA Track & Field Championships in Des Moines, IA and that means results are pouring in fast and furious. Wisconsin has had a mixed bag of results so far, but earned two second team all-America honors after Day 2. 
Japheth Cato took 14th in the decathlon, earning the final spot on the 2nd team all-America list. Things weren’t quite as good for his teammate David Grzesiak who finished 20th in his final appearance in his Badger career.
Cato is just a sophomore and it was his 2nd appearance at the Finals. “My freshman year I was 15th (at the NCAA championships). This is something to really grow off of,” said Cato. “It was a really good experience and I’m really glad I got to share it with (teammate) Dave Grzesiak.”
The other second team all-American was Caitlin Comfort who finished 9th in the Women’s 10,000 meter event with a time of 33:19.54.
Back over on the men’s side one of Wisconsin’s best hopes for a possible podium finish, Rob Finnerty, qualified for Saturday’s 1500 meter final.
Comfort wasn’t the best of the Badger Women at the meet on Thursday as the 1-2-3 Big Ten finishers in the Women’s heptathlon began competition and Big Ten champion Dorcas Akinniyi sits 3rd after four of seven events with 3,590 points. Currently she is only 6 points behind 2nd and is over 200 points behind leader Brianne Theisen of Oregon.
Jessica Flax sits in 6th while Deanna Latham brings up the Badgers rear at 11th place heading into the final day of competition today. The highlight of the night for the tiro of heptathletes was that all three hit their personal bests in the shot put at the meet.
Friday will see Wisconsin have a bit of lighter schedule as only Mohammed Ahmed competes on the track in the 5000 meter final. The three heptathletes will also finish up with the final three events of their meet. On the field side of things Monica Jakute will compete in the hammer throw and Taylor Smith will go off in the shot put event.
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