Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
FSU Winter XC Classic
Facioni Leads Wake Forest with Personal-Best at FSU Winter XC Classic
2/5/2021 1:16:00 PM | Cross Country
The Deacs opened their spring slate with a fifth-place finish in the Garnet Men’s 8k race.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A new personal-best effort in the 8k by junior Zach Facioni highlighted No. 19 Wake Forest men's cross country's first performance of the spring at the FSU Winter XC Classic in Tallahassee, Fla. on Friday morning.
"Although our top three runners ran alright this morning, today's performance is not indicative of what we are capable of," Director of Track & Field John Hayes said. "Although we missed an opportunity, our guys have been training well and I know we will be ready for nationals in five weeks."
The Deacs combined for 184 points to claim fifth in the Garnet Men's 8k, the opening race of the meet. Facioni's new personal-best of 23:25.0 earned the Sydney, Australia native a fourth-place finish to lead the Deacs in their first competition since Oct. 30. Facioni shaved six full seconds off his previous best set at the 2018 ACC Championships (23:31.4).
Jonathan Velasco joined Facioni as a top-20 finisher with a time of 23:52.2 to reel in a 15th-place nod. Wake Forest's next best finisher was Carter Coughlin, who posted an effort of 23:52.2 to finish in 23rd.
Aaron Las Heras competed in the 8k race for the first time in his career as the Barccelona, Spain native claimed 59th-place in a time of 24.35.5.
The final trio of Wake Forest finishers in the Garnet race were Joaquin Martinez De Pinillos (25:12.1), Ben Mitchell (25:30.4) and Jack Tiernan (25:37.4).
Luke Tewalt and John LePino finished off the morning as the duo hit the trail in the Gold Men's 8k to wrap up racing at the Apalachee Regional Park. Tewalt tallied 16th-place with a finish of 25:27.3, while LePino recorded a time of 26:28.1, good for 43rd.
The Deacs head back to Tallahassee to compete in the FSU XC Last Chance Meet as its final opportunity to prepare for the NCAA Cross Country Championships on March 15 in Stillwater, Okla.
Garnet 8k Results- Fifth Place (184 points)
4. Facioni- 23.25.0 (PR)
15. Velasco- 23.52.4
23. Coughlin- 23:51.1
59. Las Heras- 24:35.5
90. Martinez De Pinillos- 25:12.1
102. Mitchell- 25:30.4
106- Tiernan- 25:37.4
Gold 8k Results
16. Tewalt- 25.27.3
43. LePino- 26:28.1
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