Wake Forest Athletics

Wake Forest Garners Top-10 Finish at NCAA Championships
11/20/2021 9:22:00 PM | Cross Country
The Demon Deacon capped off the season by placing top-10 at the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1992.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 17 Wake Forest men's cross country team capped off their fall season, placing 10th at the NCAA Championships at Apalachee Regional Park hosted Florida State on Saturday.
The men posted their best finish since 1992 with a top-10 finish at the NCAA Championships. Zach Facioni became the first Demon Deacon to earn All-America honors in back-to-back years in program history with his team leading 19th place finish.
Wake Forest as a team jumped 17 spots to finish the race. By the 2000m mark, Wake Forest sat in 27th place but jumped 12 spots to 15th place by the 5000m line. For the final 5000m, the Demon Deacons collectively moved to earn themselves a top-10 mark.
Aaron Las Heras and Thomas Vanoppen finished with close times of 29:57.5 and 30:05.5, placing 74th and 88th respectively. Joaquin Martinez De Pinillos (30:09.9) and Justin Robison (30:28.0) rounded out the scoring for the Demon Deacons.
Saturday concluded the cross country season. The indoor track and field season will begin soon.
JOHN HAYES QUOTE
" The men ran very well today. Their effort and attitude have been incredible. It's been a great, incredibly positive experience for these young men. They have learned to run as a team and compete for each other."
"We were patient and confident today and did not panic when we were 27th early in the race. They grouped up and moved together. Very dedicated but fun group to work with!!"
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP (all times Eastern)
Venue: Apalachee Regional Park
Date: November 20
Full Results
Saturday, November 20th:
The men posted their best finish since 1992 with a top-10 finish at the NCAA Championships. Zach Facioni became the first Demon Deacon to earn All-America honors in back-to-back years in program history with his team leading 19th place finish.
Wake Forest as a team jumped 17 spots to finish the race. By the 2000m mark, Wake Forest sat in 27th place but jumped 12 spots to 15th place by the 5000m line. For the final 5000m, the Demon Deacons collectively moved to earn themselves a top-10 mark.
Aaron Las Heras and Thomas Vanoppen finished with close times of 29:57.5 and 30:05.5, placing 74th and 88th respectively. Joaquin Martinez De Pinillos (30:09.9) and Justin Robison (30:28.0) rounded out the scoring for the Demon Deacons.
Saturday concluded the cross country season. The indoor track and field season will begin soon.
JOHN HAYES QUOTE
" The men ran very well today. Their effort and attitude have been incredible. It's been a great, incredibly positive experience for these young men. They have learned to run as a team and compete for each other."
"We were patient and confident today and did not panic when we were 27th early in the race. They grouped up and moved together. Very dedicated but fun group to work with!!"
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP (all times Eastern)
Venue: Apalachee Regional Park
Date: November 20
Full Results
Saturday, November 20th:
- Men's 10k (10th)
- 19) Zach Facioni [JR] - 29:19.2
- 74) Aaron Las Heras [JR] - 29:57.5
- 88) Thomas Vanoppen [JR] - 30:05.5
- 101) Joaquin Martinez de Pinillos [JR] - 30:09.9
- 132) Justin Robison [SR] - 30:28.0
- 140) Luke Tewalt [FR] - 30:31.1
- 19) Coen Roberts [FR] - 31:05.2
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