Thursday, May 23
Jacksonville, Fla.
Wake Forest University
vs
NCAA East Preliminary Round
Photo by: Taylor Jones
Wake Forest Wraps Up East Prelims in Jacksonville
5/25/2019 10:14:00 PM | Track and Field
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Wake Forest track and field closed competition at the 2019 NCAA East Region Preliminaries in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday night. The Demon Deacons finished with two bids to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas.
"I'm just proud of how our team competed this week," head coach John Hayes said. "We had some tough breaks and the majority of our athletes had great performances. They all competed hard and put it all out there.Janese (Lynch) comes out and has the second best throw of her career. I think she's figuring some things out and her future is very bright with Wake Forest. Under coach Post (throws), Janese is going to do great things for the Demon Deacons."
On the men's side, Zach Facioni's freshman year at Wake Forest has been full of highlights. He earned second team indoor All-ACC honors in the 3000m and 5000m events. In outdoors, he solidified his spot atop the ACC in the 5k with a school record 13:48.16 time at the Raleigh Relays.
"It was tough seeing Zach struggle today," Hayes stated. "At this time of year, it's been a long season. He's had a great season and he's going to be one of, if not the best runner in Wake Forest history."
On the women's side, Mimi Smith was back on the track for the 5k, following her attempt in the 10k on Friday night. The Wilmette, Ill. Native wrapped up her Demon Deacon career with a solid performance.
"Mimi Smith has had an absolutely tremendous career at Wake Forest," Hayes mentioned. "She put it all out there the other night in the 10k, and tonight she just didn't have enough left. Everything Mimi has done here, from academics to athletics and leadership, just shows the character she has. It's going to be tough to replace someone like her."
Up next, Danielle Konopelski and Sam Halvorsen will head to Austin, Texas for the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held June 5-8 at Mike A. Meyers Stadium. Hayes touches on moving on from the preliminary round and what's expected in the lonestar state.
"Dani (Konopelski) showed she can pull things out in the clutch," he said. "So, it's anything goes with her. She has tremendous strength and a really fast arm. Sam has been there before. She finished 16th at nationals last year. She handles the heat well and she goes out there and grinds. Let's go out there and get it done. Go deacs."
RESULTS
Women's Shot Put
29. Janese Lynch, 15.39m
Women's 5000m
25. Mimi Smith, 16:42.39
Men's 5000m
29. Zach Facioni, 14:36.41
"I'm just proud of how our team competed this week," head coach John Hayes said. "We had some tough breaks and the majority of our athletes had great performances. They all competed hard and put it all out there.Janese (Lynch) comes out and has the second best throw of her career. I think she's figuring some things out and her future is very bright with Wake Forest. Under coach Post (throws), Janese is going to do great things for the Demon Deacons."
On the men's side, Zach Facioni's freshman year at Wake Forest has been full of highlights. He earned second team indoor All-ACC honors in the 3000m and 5000m events. In outdoors, he solidified his spot atop the ACC in the 5k with a school record 13:48.16 time at the Raleigh Relays.
"It was tough seeing Zach struggle today," Hayes stated. "At this time of year, it's been a long season. He's had a great season and he's going to be one of, if not the best runner in Wake Forest history."
On the women's side, Mimi Smith was back on the track for the 5k, following her attempt in the 10k on Friday night. The Wilmette, Ill. Native wrapped up her Demon Deacon career with a solid performance.
"Mimi Smith has had an absolutely tremendous career at Wake Forest," Hayes mentioned. "She put it all out there the other night in the 10k, and tonight she just didn't have enough left. Everything Mimi has done here, from academics to athletics and leadership, just shows the character she has. It's going to be tough to replace someone like her."
Up next, Danielle Konopelski and Sam Halvorsen will head to Austin, Texas for the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held June 5-8 at Mike A. Meyers Stadium. Hayes touches on moving on from the preliminary round and what's expected in the lonestar state.
"Dani (Konopelski) showed she can pull things out in the clutch," he said. "So, it's anything goes with her. She has tremendous strength and a really fast arm. Sam has been there before. She finished 16th at nationals last year. She handles the heat well and she goes out there and grinds. Let's go out there and get it done. Go deacs."
RESULTS
Women's Shot Put
29. Janese Lynch, 15.39m
Women's 5000m
25. Mimi Smith, 16:42.39
Men's 5000m
29. Zach Facioni, 14:36.41
Players Mentioned
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