Friday, November 10
Spartanburg, S.C.
11:00 A.M.
Wake Forest University
vs
NCAA Southeast Regional
Deacs Record Pair of Fourth Place Finishes at NCAA Southeast Regional
11/10/2023 3:58:00 PM | Cross Country
A combined five Demon Deacons earned All-Region honors between the two programs.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Behind several resilient performances, the Wake Forest men's and women's cross country teams recorded a pair of fourth place team finishes Friday at the NCAA Southeast Regional at Roger Milliken Center in Spartanburg, S.C.
With Friday's result, both programs placed within the top-four regionally for the first time since the turn of the century (23 years).
Freshman Brooke Wilson (10th), along with graduate students Caroline Garrett (20th) and Lydia van Dijk (24th) all placed in the top-25 for the women, securing All-Region accolades. In the men's 10k, junior Luke Tewalt (fifth) and sophomore Joe O'Brien (19th) garnered honors.
Both squads will now await the 2023 NCAA Division I Men's & Women's Cross Country Selection Show at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Nov. 11). An at-large bid will mark the fourth-consecutive NCAA Championship appearance for the men, while the women are seeking their first appearance since 2006.
Men's NCAA Championship Appearances
1988 (14th), 1989 (3rd), 1990 (18th), 1992 (9th), 1993 (20th), 1995 (20th), 1996 (11th), 2000 (18th), 2001 (19th), 2021 Spring (15th), 2021 Fall (10th), 2022 (5th)
Women's NCAA Championship Appearances
1987 (10th), 1992 (19th), 1994 (12th), 1997 (17th), 1998 (15th), 2000 (29th), 2002 (9th), 2003 (21st), 2004 (19th), 2005 (17th), 2006 (27th)
Friday, the Wake Forest women were led by Wilson, as she clocked 20:04.5 en route to her 10th-place individual result. Garrett, van Dijk, Madeline Rehm and Alli Boehm made up the Demon Deacons' top-five spread.
Overall, the Deacs were one of only three teams to have three runners (Wilson, Garrett and van Dijk) place in the top-25.
The Wake Forest men climbed back from seventh place at the 5k split to finish fourth overall. Individually, the Deacs were led by Tewalt as he finished in 28:59.7 to secure a top-five result. Of note, the Demon Deacons' top-five spread consisted of Tewalt, O'Brien, Charlie Sprott, Gavin Ehlers and Hunter Jones.
Women's 6K
Men's 10k
From the Staff
"All 14 athletes that competed for the Deacs today fought like champions. I am very proud as the head coach. The men will secure a hard fought bid tomorrow based upon the points we've earned throughout the season. To qualify with such a young, inexperienced team took courage and toughness. At 7k of the 10k race, we looked like we were in trouble. Champions don't back down when faced with adversity. Our group, every one of them, fought to secure our bid. This will be a moment they can always be proud of. After not qualifying for nearly 20 years, this is the fourth-straight year we are going to the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Only 10 percent of teams make it, so these young men should be proud." - director of track & field and cross country John Hayes
"As we wrapped up our team meeting last night, I knew the women were going to surprise some people on race day. The confidence and joy I saw in their faces as we talked about the race plan was inspiring. They were ready to battle, with and for each other, from start to finish. And that's exactly what they did today.
After finishing 8th a year ago and having one athlete, Mackenna Curtis-Collins, finish All-Region it was extra special to finish fourth today and have three athletes finish All-Region. The women maximized their potential today, and I could not be more proud of them." - associate head coach Ashley Bastron
Up Next
The 2023 NCAA Division I Men's & Women's Cross Country Selection Show will be held at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Nov. 11) on NCAA.com, while the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Va.
Follow The Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
With Friday's result, both programs placed within the top-four regionally for the first time since the turn of the century (23 years).
Freshman Brooke Wilson (10th), along with graduate students Caroline Garrett (20th) and Lydia van Dijk (24th) all placed in the top-25 for the women, securing All-Region accolades. In the men's 10k, junior Luke Tewalt (fifth) and sophomore Joe O'Brien (19th) garnered honors.
Both squads will now await the 2023 NCAA Division I Men's & Women's Cross Country Selection Show at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Nov. 11). An at-large bid will mark the fourth-consecutive NCAA Championship appearance for the men, while the women are seeking their first appearance since 2006.
Men's NCAA Championship Appearances
1988 (14th), 1989 (3rd), 1990 (18th), 1992 (9th), 1993 (20th), 1995 (20th), 1996 (11th), 2000 (18th), 2001 (19th), 2021 Spring (15th), 2021 Fall (10th), 2022 (5th)
Women's NCAA Championship Appearances
1987 (10th), 1992 (19th), 1994 (12th), 1997 (17th), 1998 (15th), 2000 (29th), 2002 (9th), 2003 (21st), 2004 (19th), 2005 (17th), 2006 (27th)
Friday, the Wake Forest women were led by Wilson, as she clocked 20:04.5 en route to her 10th-place individual result. Garrett, van Dijk, Madeline Rehm and Alli Boehm made up the Demon Deacons' top-five spread.
Overall, the Deacs were one of only three teams to have three runners (Wilson, Garrett and van Dijk) place in the top-25.
The Wake Forest men climbed back from seventh place at the 5k split to finish fourth overall. Individually, the Deacs were led by Tewalt as he finished in 28:59.7 to secure a top-five result. Of note, the Demon Deacons' top-five spread consisted of Tewalt, O'Brien, Charlie Sprott, Gavin Ehlers and Hunter Jones.
Women's 6K
| Place | Name | Time |
| 10 | Brooke Wilson | 20:04.5 |
| 20 | Caroline Garrett | 20:19.9 |
| 24 | Lydia van Dijk | 20:29.4 |
| 38 | Madeline Rehm | 20:54.5 |
| 55 | Alli Boehm | 21:06.1 |
| 83 | Leigh Walters | 21:30.7 |
| 114 | Alyssa Preisano | 21:55.1 |
Men's 10k
| Place | Name | Time |
| 5 | Luke Tewalt | 28:59.7 |
| 19 | Joe O'Brien | 29:34.1 |
| 31 | Gavin Ehlers | 29:58.2 |
| 38 | Charlie Sprott | 30:06.9 |
| 44 | Hunter Jones | 30:13.3 |
| 66 | Rynard Swanepoel | 30:34.3 |
| 75 | Aidan Ross | 30:53.5 |
From the Staff
"All 14 athletes that competed for the Deacs today fought like champions. I am very proud as the head coach. The men will secure a hard fought bid tomorrow based upon the points we've earned throughout the season. To qualify with such a young, inexperienced team took courage and toughness. At 7k of the 10k race, we looked like we were in trouble. Champions don't back down when faced with adversity. Our group, every one of them, fought to secure our bid. This will be a moment they can always be proud of. After not qualifying for nearly 20 years, this is the fourth-straight year we are going to the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Only 10 percent of teams make it, so these young men should be proud." - director of track & field and cross country John Hayes
"As we wrapped up our team meeting last night, I knew the women were going to surprise some people on race day. The confidence and joy I saw in their faces as we talked about the race plan was inspiring. They were ready to battle, with and for each other, from start to finish. And that's exactly what they did today.
After finishing 8th a year ago and having one athlete, Mackenna Curtis-Collins, finish All-Region it was extra special to finish fourth today and have three athletes finish All-Region. The women maximized their potential today, and I could not be more proud of them." - associate head coach Ashley Bastron
Up Next
The 2023 NCAA Division I Men's & Women's Cross Country Selection Show will be held at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Nov. 11) on NCAA.com, while the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Va.
Follow The Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
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