
Wake Forest Finishes 24th at NCAA Championships
11/18/2023 3:51:00 PM | Cross Country
The Demon Deacons reached the national meet for a program record fourth-straight season.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Wake Forest men's cross country team concluded its 2023 campaign, finishing 24th overall at the NCAA Championships Saturday at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Va.
The Demon Deacons tallied 536 points en route to Saturday's performance, finishing ahead of four teams that were ranked in the top 25 of the latest USTFCCCA Poll.
Individually, the Deacs were led by Joe O'Brien as he clocked 30:23.5 to finish 81st overall. Charlie Sprott (125), Luke Tewalt (137), Gavin Ehlers (143) and Hunter Jones (171) completed the Demon Deacons' top-five spread.
Of note, Saturday marked Wake Forest's fourth-straight NCAA Championship appearance and the Demon Deacons' 13th in program history.
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), 2023 (24th)
Men's 10k
Team Results
2023 Season Highlights
From the Staff
"Today was a little like an early season race - some good and some not so good. That's a bit how our season has gone. We definitely need to start racing more consistently. With that being said, we have an incredibly young group that was missing one of our stars. I thought we could be in the top 20, but we fell short. The great thing is that we bring everyone back next year, as well as adding several very good athletes to the mix. The future is bright for Wake Forest cross country." - director of track & field and cross country John Hayes
Follow The Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
The Demon Deacons tallied 536 points en route to Saturday's performance, finishing ahead of four teams that were ranked in the top 25 of the latest USTFCCCA Poll.
Individually, the Deacs were led by Joe O'Brien as he clocked 30:23.5 to finish 81st overall. Charlie Sprott (125), Luke Tewalt (137), Gavin Ehlers (143) and Hunter Jones (171) completed the Demon Deacons' top-five spread.
Of note, Saturday marked Wake Forest's fourth-straight NCAA Championship appearance and the Demon Deacons' 13th in program history.
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), 2023 (24th)
Men's 10k
Place | Name | Time |
81 | Joe O'Brien | 30:23.5 |
125 | Charlie Sprott | 30:47.2 |
137 | Luke Tewalt | 30:53.7 |
143 | Gavin Ehlers | 30:57.9 |
171 | Hunter Jones | 31:17.0 |
184 | Aidan Ross | 31:30.0 |
200 | Rynard Swanepoel | 31:43.3 |
Team Results
- Oklahoma State
- Northern Arizona
- BYU
- Arkansas
- Iowa State
- North Carolina
- Texas
- Stanford
- Syracuse
- Wisconsin
- Princeton
- Air Force
- Montana State
- Notre Dame
- Harvard
- California Baptist
- NC State
- New Mexico
- Michigan
- Villanova
- Butler
- Virginia
- Portland
- Wake Forest
- Colorado
- Tennessee
- Florida State
- Gonzaga
- Iona
- Georgetown
- Eastern Kentucky
2023 Season Highlights
- Wake Forest reached the NCAA Championships for the fourth-straight season, marking the longest streak in program history.
- This year marked the program's 13th all-time appearance.
- Luke Tewalt and Joe O'Brien both garnered All-ACC honors, as well as All-Region honors during the 2023 season.
- Tewalt finished fifth individually at the NCAA Southeast Regional.
- Charlie Sprott was named ACC Freshman of the Year, after a stellar performance at the ACC Championships.
- Sprott clocked 23:53.7 to place 23rd overall.
- Rocky Hansen was tabbed ACC Performer of the Week, becoming the first true freshman to garner the accolade since 2018.
- Hansen was also tabbed Freshman of the Week on two occasions.
- In his two races this season, Hansen placed fifth and sixth individually.
- Hansen was also tabbed Freshman of the Week on two occasions.
- Paul Specht was named ACC Performer of the Week for the first time in his career during the 2023 slate.
- The Demon Deacons recorded their fourth-consecutive, top-four team finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional.
- The Deacs won the Hokie Open (Nov. 3) and finished third at the Royals XC Challenge (Oct. 6).
From the Staff
"Today was a little like an early season race - some good and some not so good. That's a bit how our season has gone. We definitely need to start racing more consistently. With that being said, we have an incredibly young group that was missing one of our stars. I thought we could be in the top 20, but we fell short. The great thing is that we bring everyone back next year, as well as adding several very good athletes to the mix. The future is bright for Wake Forest cross country." - director of track & field and cross country John Hayes
Follow The Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
Players Mentioned
Matt Barrie SportsCenter at Wake Forest with Demond Claiborne
Wednesday, September 10
Matt Barrie SportsCenter on Wake Forest Campus (Arnold Palmer Complex)
Wednesday, September 10
Football Media Availability (9/9/25)
Wednesday, September 10
Wake Forest Football vs Western Carolina | Cinematic Recap
Tuesday, September 09