Thursday, February 23
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ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships
Vanoppen and Kitchell Earn Silver Medals During Final Day of 2023 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships
2/25/2023 5:19:00 PM | Track and Field
Graduate student Thomas Vanoppen and junior Thomas Kitchell placed second in the mile and the shot put, respectively, during day three of the annual meet.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Wake Forest men's and women's indoor track & field teams had another stellar outing Saturday as the Demon Deacons earned two silver medals to conclude the 2023 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
After securing his spot in the final of the men's mile less than 24 hours prior, graduate student Thomas Vanoppen ran a stellar 3:59.09 in the mile Saturday to place second, earning his second-consecutive All-ACC nod. Additionally, Paul Specht placed fifth in the event, garnering All-ACC honors in his freshman campaign.
Vanoppen was joined by junior Thomas Kitchell as the only Deacs to earn podium finishes as Kitchell tossed 18.63m, finishing second in the men's shot put. Of note, Kitchell also placed second in the shot put a season ago at the 2022 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Overall, Wake Forest earned two podium finishes for the meet. Additionally, seven Deacs earned All-ACC honors.
All-ACC Honorees
Day One Recap - Thursday, Feb. 23
During day one of the 2023 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships, junior Addison Berry became the first Deac to garner All-ACC honors as she accumulated 4,015 points in the pentathlon, marking the second-most points in the event in school history. Berry's stellar pentathlon performance was highlighted by fourth place finishes in the high jump and the shot put, respectively.
Despite a loaded field in the men's 5,000m, freshman Joe O'Brien clocked 13:57.38 to finish fourth, claiming All-ACC honors in the process.
Graduate student Andrew White had another excellent performance in the weight throw as the Canton, Ohio native tossed 21.60m, finishing fourth.
Overall, the Deacs recorded two top-five finishes between the two programs during day one of the annual event.
Day Two Recap - Friday, Feb. 24
During day two, senior Emma Soderstrom earned All-ACC honors for the second-consecutive season in the high jump as the Gothenburg, Sweden native jumped 1.74m to finish sixth. Of note, Soderstrom placed third in the event a season ago.
Wake Forest dominated the preliminary round of the men's mile as the Demon Deacons became one of only two schools to have multiple participants qualify for the finals in the event. Vanoppen had a stellar performance, clocking 4:04.44 and winning his heat.
Freshman Paul Specht also had an excellent showing in the mile Friday as the Sindelfingen, Germany native placed second in his heat, finishing in 4:05.25 to qualify for the finals.
Sophomore Rynard Swanepoel placed second in the fifth heat of the 800, clocking 1:49.65 and securing his spot in the finals of the event. Of note, Swanepoel's time of 1:49.65 in the 800 marked the fifth-fastest time in school history.
Final Men's Team Standings
1. Virginia Tech – 110.5
2. Florida State – 74.5
3. Clemson – 74.5
4. Louisville – 68.5
5. North Carolina – 63
6. Virginia– 49.5
7. Miami – 39
8. Wake Forest – 35
9. Syracuse – 30
10. Pitt – 28
11. NC State – 27
12. Notre Dame – 24
13. Duke – 18
14. Georgia Tech – 14
15. Boston College – 2
Final Women's Team Standings
1. Virginia Tech – 93
2. Duke – 91
3. Clemson – 68
4. NC State – 61
5. Miami – 60
t-6. Notre Dame – 53
t-6. Florida State – 53
8. Louisville – 42
9. Virginia – 39.5
10. North Carolina – 32
11. Pitt – 23
12. Georgia Tech – 17
t-13. Boston College – 11
t-13. Syracuse – 11
15. Wake Forest – 8.5
2023 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships Outlook
Thomas Vanoppen has qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships as a result of the 3:54.85 mile he ran on Feb. 11 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational. Of note, Vanoppen's mark was the second-fastest mile ever run by a Belgian.
Currently, Andrew White has the 16th-best mark nationally in the men's weight throw. If White's season-best toss of 22.06m still stands as the 16th-best throw after this weekend's slate of conference championships around the country, he will qualify for the national championships.
From the Staff
"This weekend we had several people step up in a big way but in the end we did not get the job done. That falls on me, the head coach. We left way too many points out there. This meet is about being competitive, consistent and resilient. We should have 1-2 athletes at the NCAA Championships in two weeks. The rest will get back to work in preparation for what I believe will be a very successful outdoor season." - director of track & field and cross country John Hayes
Relive the Action
ACC Network (ACCN) will re-air Saturday's action tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 26) at 8 a.m.
Up Next
This season's NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held March 10-11, 2023, at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M.
Follow The Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
After securing his spot in the final of the men's mile less than 24 hours prior, graduate student Thomas Vanoppen ran a stellar 3:59.09 in the mile Saturday to place second, earning his second-consecutive All-ACC nod. Additionally, Paul Specht placed fifth in the event, garnering All-ACC honors in his freshman campaign.
Vanoppen was joined by junior Thomas Kitchell as the only Deacs to earn podium finishes as Kitchell tossed 18.63m, finishing second in the men's shot put. Of note, Kitchell also placed second in the shot put a season ago at the 2022 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Overall, Wake Forest earned two podium finishes for the meet. Additionally, seven Deacs earned All-ACC honors.
All-ACC Honorees
- Addison Berry - Pentathlon
- 6th - 4,015 points
- Emma Soderstrom - High Jump
- 6th - 1.74m
- Joe O'Brien - 5K
- 4th - 13:57.38
- Andrew White - Weight Throw
- 4th - 21.60m
- Thomas Kitchell - Shot Put
- 2nd - 18.63m
- Thomas Vanoppen - Mile
- 2nd - 3:59.09
- Paul Specht - Mile
- 5th - 4:00.99
Day One Recap - Thursday, Feb. 23
During day one of the 2023 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships, junior Addison Berry became the first Deac to garner All-ACC honors as she accumulated 4,015 points in the pentathlon, marking the second-most points in the event in school history. Berry's stellar pentathlon performance was highlighted by fourth place finishes in the high jump and the shot put, respectively.
Despite a loaded field in the men's 5,000m, freshman Joe O'Brien clocked 13:57.38 to finish fourth, claiming All-ACC honors in the process.
Graduate student Andrew White had another excellent performance in the weight throw as the Canton, Ohio native tossed 21.60m, finishing fourth.
Overall, the Deacs recorded two top-five finishes between the two programs during day one of the annual event.
Day Two Recap - Friday, Feb. 24
During day two, senior Emma Soderstrom earned All-ACC honors for the second-consecutive season in the high jump as the Gothenburg, Sweden native jumped 1.74m to finish sixth. Of note, Soderstrom placed third in the event a season ago.
Wake Forest dominated the preliminary round of the men's mile as the Demon Deacons became one of only two schools to have multiple participants qualify for the finals in the event. Vanoppen had a stellar performance, clocking 4:04.44 and winning his heat.
Freshman Paul Specht also had an excellent showing in the mile Friday as the Sindelfingen, Germany native placed second in his heat, finishing in 4:05.25 to qualify for the finals.
Sophomore Rynard Swanepoel placed second in the fifth heat of the 800, clocking 1:49.65 and securing his spot in the finals of the event. Of note, Swanepoel's time of 1:49.65 in the 800 marked the fifth-fastest time in school history.
Final Men's Team Standings
1. Virginia Tech – 110.5
2. Florida State – 74.5
3. Clemson – 74.5
4. Louisville – 68.5
5. North Carolina – 63
6. Virginia– 49.5
7. Miami – 39
8. Wake Forest – 35
9. Syracuse – 30
10. Pitt – 28
11. NC State – 27
12. Notre Dame – 24
13. Duke – 18
14. Georgia Tech – 14
15. Boston College – 2
Final Women's Team Standings
1. Virginia Tech – 93
2. Duke – 91
3. Clemson – 68
4. NC State – 61
5. Miami – 60
t-6. Notre Dame – 53
t-6. Florida State – 53
8. Louisville – 42
9. Virginia – 39.5
10. North Carolina – 32
11. Pitt – 23
12. Georgia Tech – 17
t-13. Boston College – 11
t-13. Syracuse – 11
15. Wake Forest – 8.5
2023 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships Outlook
Thomas Vanoppen has qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships as a result of the 3:54.85 mile he ran on Feb. 11 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational. Of note, Vanoppen's mark was the second-fastest mile ever run by a Belgian.
Currently, Andrew White has the 16th-best mark nationally in the men's weight throw. If White's season-best toss of 22.06m still stands as the 16th-best throw after this weekend's slate of conference championships around the country, he will qualify for the national championships.
From the Staff
"This weekend we had several people step up in a big way but in the end we did not get the job done. That falls on me, the head coach. We left way too many points out there. This meet is about being competitive, consistent and resilient. We should have 1-2 athletes at the NCAA Championships in two weeks. The rest will get back to work in preparation for what I believe will be a very successful outdoor season." - director of track & field and cross country John Hayes
Relive the Action
ACC Network (ACCN) will re-air Saturday's action tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 26) at 8 a.m.
Up Next
This season's NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held March 10-11, 2023, at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M.
Follow The Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
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Distance
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