Feb. 4, 2012
• Complete Results | Complete Results 
MADISON, Wis. -- Move Japheth Cato to the top of the list.
A record-setting performance saw the Wisconsin sophomore shatter the 14-year-old Big Ten standard in the heptathlon Saturday at the Frank Sevigne Invitational.
Compiling a total of 5,939 points in the combined event held Friday and Saturday in Lincoln, Neb., Cato easily out-paced the mark of 5,769 set by Minnesota's Ben Jensen.
The performance ranks as the ninth-best ever by a collegian. The showing also:
Broke the school record of 5,761 points set by Joe Detmer in 2007.
Marked the second-best performance in the country this season, behind Arkansas athlete Gunnar Nixon's total of 6,022 compiled last weekend.
Punched Cato's NCAA championships ticket for the second-straight season.
Bottom line: A dominating and memorable performance in the heptathlon for the Badger.
In the combined event, Cato posted the field's top mark in five of the seven disciplines, including his first-place run of 8.01 seconds in the 60 hurdles and clearance of 16 feet, 10 1/4 inches in the pole vault.
Also earning a podium finish in the heptathlon for UW was senior David Grzesiak, who also set a personal best with 5,677 points and finished third.
It was a well-rounded day of competition for Wisconsin runners, as well, with four Badgers earning first-place finishes.
After winning in the 400 meters last weekend at the Bill Bergan Invitational, Brady Hammon took another win, this time in the 200 meters. The senior finished in 21.65 seconds to edge out Cowley College's Fred Taylor, who finished in 21.71.
In another close finish, sophomore Tyler Wolosyzk was able to grab a victory in the 600 meters. Woloszyk dashed to cross the finish line in 1:19.01 and beat out Nebraska's London Hawk, who finished just behind in 1:20.47.
Sophomore Jake Erschen earned the win in a special race of the 3000 meters, finishing with a new personal-best time of 8:08.69.
It was a photo finish in a special run of the 800 meters, as UW freshman Austin Mudd was bested by fractions of a second. Finishing in 1:50.70, Mudd placed second behind unattached runner Christian Smith and his finish of 1:50.69.
UW junior Zach Mellon finished just behind Mudd and Smith in third with a time of 1:51.05.
Another pair of Badgers worked to earn top-three finishes in a special run of the mile. Sophomore Alex Brill finished in 4:09.24 and junior Reed Connor crossed the finish line in 4:09.38 to take second and third in the event, respectively. Alex Balsiger of Colorado State won the race in a time of 4:08.31.
In a consolation run of the 400 meters, freshman Aaron Thompson took the win finishing in a time of 48.19.
In field events, Badger Dan Block continued his strong season in the throws by again placing in the top two of the shot put. The sophomore's throw of 60 feet, 4 1/2 inches, was enough to place him second in the event, coming up short of Nebraska's Luke Pinkelman and his winning heave of 62-5 3/4.
In the 4x400 relay, Wisconsin came up just short in a close battle with host-team Nebraska. Finishing in a time of 3:12.81, the Badgers came in second behind the Huskers' winning time of 3:11.61.
Next weekend, the road competition continues for Wisconsin as the Badgers travel to Ames, Iowa, for the Cyclone Classic and Fayetteville, Ark., for the Tyson Invitational.
