Friday, October 28
Charlottesville, Va.
Wake Forest University
vs
ACC Championship
No. 8 Wake Forest Claims 2022 ACC Men’s Cross Country Championship, Women Place Ninth
10/28/2022 2:44:00 PM | Cross Country
The Demon Deacons reign supreme for the first time since 1994.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the fifth time in program history, the Wake Forest men's cross country team claimed the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) team title as four Demon Deacons placed in the top eight Friday at the Panorama Farms Cross Country Course in Charlottesville, Va.
Wake Forest had its best performance of the 2022 campaign as the Deacs finished 42 points ahead of second-place Syracuse to secure the league title.
The Demon Deacons got off to a conservative start as Thomas Vanoppen was the only Deac in the top 10 after the first 2,000 meters. Over the next 1,000, Vanoppen and Joaquin Martinez de Pinillos began to make their move as the duo ran into sixth place and ninth place, respectively.
Two-time All-American Zach Facioni continued to examine the field before making his move into third place at the 4,000 meter mark.
Through 4,000 meters, Wake Forest held the top three spots (Martinez de Pinillos, Vanoppen, Facioni), with Luke Tewalt (ninth) also in the top 10.
After studying the field over the first half of the race, last season's regional runner-up, Aaron Las Heras, began to pick up his tempo as the Barcelona, Spain, native positioned himself into first after 5,000 meters.
By the 7,000 meter mark, Wake Forest occupied five of the top 13 spots as the Deacs looked to earn the first ACC Men's Cross Country Championship for the program since 1994.
Over the final 1,000, Wake Forest held on as the Demon Deacons' entire top-five spread finished in the top 24, with four Deacs finishing in the top eight (Las Heras, Tewalt, Vanoppen and Facioni).
Ben Mitchell, Weber Long, Daniel Winter and Rynard Swanepoel also competed for the Deacs and all placed in the top 60.
For the women, Wake Forest placed ninth as the Demon Deacons were paced by senior Mackenna Curtis-Collins, who finished 25th. Juniors Caroline Garrett (41st) and Madeline Rehm (48th) also had solid performances and joined Curtis-Collins in the top-50.
Quotables
"I got a little nervous with how we got out, but the guys looked composed and they moved to the front. The pace was a little faster than I thought it would be, so when we moved to the front, it kind of broke up the pack. The guys executed tremendously, and I'm super proud of all of them. They really fought hard." - director of track & field and cross country John Hayes
"It was a solid day for the women. Mackenna and Caroline had great races and led the team well. We had a bit too much separation between our second to fifth runners today, but I'm confident we can close that gap at regionals in two weeks. I'm excited for the rest of the season and I'm so proud of our men - returning home as ACC Champions." - associate head coach Ashley Bastron
"I'm extremely proud of the work that our guys put in, not only this season but for the past five years. Going from where they were, to being the best team in the toughest conference in collegiate cross country is impressive, and I believe that is a testament to the work ethic that our guys have. Coach Hayes has had a vision for this program and it was great to see everything come to fruition Friday." - assistant head coach Brandon Hazouri
MEN
1. Wake Forest - 44
2. Syracuse - 86
3. North Carolina - 87
4. Notre Dame - 92
5. NC State - 118
6. Virginia - 125
7. Duke -181
8. Virginia Tech -251
9. Florida State - 255
10. Pitt - 292
11. Georgia Tech - 319
12. Louisville - 324
13. Clemson - 359
14. Boston College - 451
15. Miami - 455
WOMEN
1. NC State - 34
2. Notre Dame - 38
3. Virginia - 98
4. North Carolina - 109
5. Florida State -148
6. Syracuse - 191
7. Duke -195
8. Virginia Tech - 219
9. Wake Forest - 226
10. Georgia Tech - 240
11. Boston College - 339
12. Miami - 340
13. Pitt - 368
14. Clemson - 424
15. Louisville - 434
Up Next
Wake Forest will return to action Friday, Nov. 11 when the Demon Deacons travel to Louisville, Ky., for the NCAA Southeast Regionals.
Wake Forest had its best performance of the 2022 campaign as the Deacs finished 42 points ahead of second-place Syracuse to secure the league title.
The Demon Deacons got off to a conservative start as Thomas Vanoppen was the only Deac in the top 10 after the first 2,000 meters. Over the next 1,000, Vanoppen and Joaquin Martinez de Pinillos began to make their move as the duo ran into sixth place and ninth place, respectively.
Two-time All-American Zach Facioni continued to examine the field before making his move into third place at the 4,000 meter mark.
Through 4,000 meters, Wake Forest held the top three spots (Martinez de Pinillos, Vanoppen, Facioni), with Luke Tewalt (ninth) also in the top 10.
After studying the field over the first half of the race, last season's regional runner-up, Aaron Las Heras, began to pick up his tempo as the Barcelona, Spain, native positioned himself into first after 5,000 meters.
By the 7,000 meter mark, Wake Forest occupied five of the top 13 spots as the Deacs looked to earn the first ACC Men's Cross Country Championship for the program since 1994.
Over the final 1,000, Wake Forest held on as the Demon Deacons' entire top-five spread finished in the top 24, with four Deacs finishing in the top eight (Las Heras, Tewalt, Vanoppen and Facioni).
Ben Mitchell, Weber Long, Daniel Winter and Rynard Swanepoel also competed for the Deacs and all placed in the top 60.
For the women, Wake Forest placed ninth as the Demon Deacons were paced by senior Mackenna Curtis-Collins, who finished 25th. Juniors Caroline Garrett (41st) and Madeline Rehm (48th) also had solid performances and joined Curtis-Collins in the top-50.
Quotables
"I got a little nervous with how we got out, but the guys looked composed and they moved to the front. The pace was a little faster than I thought it would be, so when we moved to the front, it kind of broke up the pack. The guys executed tremendously, and I'm super proud of all of them. They really fought hard." - director of track & field and cross country John Hayes
"It was a solid day for the women. Mackenna and Caroline had great races and led the team well. We had a bit too much separation between our second to fifth runners today, but I'm confident we can close that gap at regionals in two weeks. I'm excited for the rest of the season and I'm so proud of our men - returning home as ACC Champions." - associate head coach Ashley Bastron
"I'm extremely proud of the work that our guys put in, not only this season but for the past five years. Going from where they were, to being the best team in the toughest conference in collegiate cross country is impressive, and I believe that is a testament to the work ethic that our guys have. Coach Hayes has had a vision for this program and it was great to see everything come to fruition Friday." - assistant head coach Brandon Hazouri
MEN
1. Wake Forest - 44
2. Syracuse - 86
3. North Carolina - 87
4. Notre Dame - 92
5. NC State - 118
6. Virginia - 125
7. Duke -181
8. Virginia Tech -251
9. Florida State - 255
10. Pitt - 292
11. Georgia Tech - 319
12. Louisville - 324
13. Clemson - 359
14. Boston College - 451
15. Miami - 455
WOMEN
1. NC State - 34
2. Notre Dame - 38
3. Virginia - 98
4. North Carolina - 109
5. Florida State -148
6. Syracuse - 191
7. Duke -195
8. Virginia Tech - 219
9. Wake Forest - 226
10. Georgia Tech - 240
11. Boston College - 339
12. Miami - 340
13. Pitt - 368
14. Clemson - 424
15. Louisville - 434
Up Next
Wake Forest will return to action Friday, Nov. 11 when the Demon Deacons travel to Louisville, Ky., for the NCAA Southeast Regionals.
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