(UW ATHLETICS) – In a stadium known for producing magical results, Wisconsin men’s track and field sophomore Matan Ivri made his own magic on Friday, running the No. 5 1500-meter time in program history en route to a fifth-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships at Eugene, Oregon.
Ivri crossed the line in 3 minutes, 37.41 seconds, shaving almost a second off of his previous best-time, en route to earning First-Team All-America honors.
“It’s crazy how my biggest race can also feel like my biggest miss,” Ivri said. “I think I raced very well, but maybe if I had better timing, I could have found myself in second or third. But, this was my first 1500 championship race, my first nationals and my first final. This was an amazing season and that was a great way to finish it.”
The Shimshit, Israel, native started in the back of the pack for the first 700 meters along with Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum, who won the race in 3:36.05.
Ivri was in 10th heading into the ball lap, but was able to make some moves in the 400 meters, including a move down the homestretch, to finish fifth in his NCAA track and field championship debut.
“Before this season, Matan had only raced the 1500 meters a few times,” Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. “Tonight, he raced like a season veteran. That last 100 meters was crazy. he ran into some congestion but managed to squeeze through traffic for fifth in a personal-best time. He can for sure go a little faster and I’m excited to see him racing post NCAA’s.”
Ivri became the seventh Badger under Byrne to earn First-Team All-America honors in the men’s 1500 meters. This week’s NCAA championship marked Byrne’s final meet leading the Badgers as the 18-time Big Ten Coach of the Year announced his retirement earlier this season.
“Mick and I had a really good bond,” Ivri said. “We worked well together for the past three years. We might have made a mistake or two, but we learned how to fix them, and how to become better. I’m grateful for his time coaching me.”
Notes to Know
– The only Badgers to run a faster 1500 meters are UW legends Adam Spencer, Olli Hoare, Tim Hacker and Chris Solinsky.
– It marks the fifth-straight year that UW has had a First-Team All-American in the 1500 meters, the longest active streak in the country.
– Ivri was the only athlete in the field of 12 to run a personal-best time.
– Ivri is the seventh Badger to earn First-Team All-America honors in the 1500 meters during Mick Byrne‘s tenure.
– Already the Israeli record holder in the 1500 meters, Ivri improved on his national record.
– UW finished tied for 47th with four team points. Arkansas won the team title with 56 points.
Up Next: A trio of Badgers will be in Eugene next week for the U.S. Under-20 Championships at Hayward Field. Henry Risser will compete in the 800 meters, Ryan Severson will race in the 1500 meters and Darius Jones Jr. will compete in the decathlon.
Badgers volleyball adds player for upcoming season: The highly touted volleyball Puerto Rican outside hitter, Decelise Champion, will join the Wisconsin volleyball team for the 2026-27 season, head coach Kelly Sheffield announced Friday.
Originally slated to be a member of UW’s Class of 2027, Champion will join the Badger volleyball team a season early.
“We are certainly excited to have Decelise be a part of our team this season,” Sheffield said. “She approached me in February about her desire to start a year earlier and then put in the necessary academic work in order to make that happen. For the past two years she has lived in another country and taken classes in her third language and has excelled while doing so. Although it is unusual to have someone start college and competing at such a young age, her maturity, her background, and the great support we have here at Wisconsin for all of our athletes gives me confidence that she will be able to thrive.”
“This summer she will be competing for Puerto Rico in an Olympic Qualifier event and will be joining us at the beginning of September after that tournament is completed.”
The 6-foot-6 outside hitter is from Dorado, Puerto Rico and attended Dorado Academy. In 2023, she helped her team to a Buzzer Beater Championship and AAU National Championship, while also being named MVP of both tournaments. Her accolades also include Trofeo Bussinelo Champion (2024), Finali Nazionali Champion (2025), and Finali Regionali di Lazio Champion in 2026. In each of those three latter championships, she was named MVP and/or Best Attacker of the tournament.
In addition to Champion’s high school honors, she also competes with Puerto Rico’s Women’s National Team and plays club for the Italian Club Volleyro Casal de Pazzi. Champion has competed in the Mundial U17 in Peru (2024), Senior Copa Panamericana Dominican Republic (2024), Senior Final Four in Perto Rico (2025), Copa Panamericana Colima Mexico (2025), and Senior Mundial Thailand (2025).
Wisconsin native coming home: Wisconsin softball head coach Yvette Healy lands power hitter Melania Luostari after spending a season at Auburn, announced by Coach Healy Friday afternoon.
Luostari, originally from Maple, Wis. comes to Wisconsin after spending her freshman season at Auburn University.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Melania home to Wisconsin!” Badger head coach Yvette Healy says. “She’s a hard-working, competitive power hitter who helped lead Superior high school to the WIAA State Tournament twice in her career. She is feared hitter who brings power and determination to every at bat. We’re so excited for her to represent her home state competing on a national stage for the University of Wisconsin.”
At Auburn, the 5-foot-7 right-handed hitter made seven appearances, primarily as a pinch hitter, and made her collegiate debut versus No. 13 Clemson on February 7.
In high school, Luostari was ranked among the Top-36 utility athletes nationally in the class of 2025. In 2024, she earned First Team All-Conference honors and was also named to the Wisconsin Fastpitch Coaches Association (WFCA) First Team All-State.
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