Thursday, May 11
Raleigh, NC
All Day
Wake Forest University
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ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Wake Forest Garners Six Podium Finishes on Final Day of ACC Championships
5/13/2023 7:23:00 PM | Track and Field
The Demon Deacons accumulated six medals and 10 All-ACC honors over the three-day event.
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Wake Forest men's and women's outdoor track & field teams had an excellent showing to conclude the 2023 ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships Saturday at the Paul Derr Track & Field Facility in Raleigh, N.C.
Junior Luke Tewalt clocked the second-fastest 1500m time in program history at 3:38.52 and finished in second place, which earned him First-Team All-ACC honors. Additionally, freshman Paul Specht (3:43.61) finished ninth in the event.
Tewalt came back just a few hours later to claim his second silver medal of the afternoon in the 5000m final. He clocked 13:50.57 for another First-Team All-ACC nod.
In the women's discus, graduate student Leia Braunagel (54.89m) and sophomore Ashlyn Giles (51.18m) grabbed third and fifth, respectively. Braunagel claimed First-Team All-ACC honors and Giles' personal-best earned her a spot on the second team. Of note, this marked Giles' second All-ACC nod of the weekend (shot put).
Sophomore Rynard Swanepoel continued his strong outdoor season in the men's 800m, as he took home the silver medal with a time of 1:47.53 and earned himself First-Team All-ACC accolades.
Graduate student Andrew White picked up the first podium finish for the Deacs Saturday as he tossed 57.85m in the men's discus to claim third place. In addition to his bronze medal, the Ohio native notched First-Team All-ACC honors.
Senior Emma Soderstrom joined the First-Team All-ACC club as well, as the senior cleared 1.79m in the women's high jump for third place in the event.
Of note, graduate student Lydia van Djik recorded a top-10 finish in the 1,500m final, while freshman Elizabeth Whaley recorded a personal-best in the 5,000m final.
All-ACC Honors
Notable Weekend Finishes
Women's Team Standings (Points)
T-13. Georgia Tech (16)
15. Syracuse (14)
Men's Team Standings (Points)
From Friday
Giles (16.73m) set a new program record in the women's shot put and picked up an All-ACC nod along the way. She improved her own previous school record by 0.58m for a fourth-place finish.
Graduate student Anna Bush earned All-ACC honors in the heptathlon after finishing in sixth-place. She finished in the top-six in three of the seven events, including a third-place finish in the high jump (1.69m).
In the men's shot put, senior Connor Mathis tossed a personal-best 16.61m for a ninth-place finish, while junior Mason Ellis (16.53m) finished 10th.
Sophomore Rynard Swanepoel (1:48.65) qualified for the men's 800m final after winning Heat 4 in the prelims. Additionally, graduate student Dillon Aryeh (1:48.76) finished with the 10th-fastest time and a personal best in the event.
From Thursday
Graduate student Jack Pihlkar earned All-ACC honors as he tossed 62.44m in the men's hammer for a fifth-place finish. Additionally, graduate student Andrew White grabbed eighth, throwing 60.76m in the event.
In the final event of day one, graduate student Zach Facioni (30.21.66) claimed All-ACC honors as he finished fourth in the 10,000m.
In the women's 1500m prelims, graduate student Lydia van Dijk clocked a personal best 4:18.79 for the sixth-fastest time and qualified for the final. In the men's 1500m prelims, freshman Paul Specht (3:46.55) and junior Luke Tewalt (3:47.06) finished in first and second of their heat to advance to the final.
Graduate student Carolien Millenaar finished with a personal-best 33:54.07 in the women's 10,000m and recorded an eighth-place finish.
Four events into the heptathlon, graduate student Anna Bush (3271 points) and junior Addison Berry (3201 points) sit in eighth and ninth, respectively. The final three events (Long Jump, Javelin, 800m) will take place Friday, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
From the Staff
"I believe that my staff did a great job preparing our team for the strong competition in the ACC. We really had some great efforts from across all of the event areas. The kids worked hard, and many of them will now advance to the NCAA East preliminary in Jacksonville." - Director of track & field and cross country John Hayes
"It was a complete team effort this weekend with points scored in every event group. I'm proud of all our athletes who competed to the best of their ability and made our Demon Deacon family proud. We secured a handful of additional NCAA First Round qualifiers and I can't wait to see what the Deacs do in Jacksonville in two weeks." - Associate head coach Ashley Bastron
"What a fun, stressful and exhilarating championship meet. The athletes competed with passion, and the results show it. I'm very proud of this group." - Associate head coach Collin Post
Coming soon. - Assistant coach Brandon Hazouri
"It was a solid meet for this group of multis and jumpers. The weekend was all about showing up and competing hard no matter what. I'm especially proud of Anna Bush and Emma Soderstrom for doing just that—and putting some points on the team scoreboard!"- Assistant coach Holly Hankenson
Up Next
The Deacs will now look ahead to the NCAA East Preliminary Track & Field Championships (May 24-27) in Jacksonville, Fla.
Follow The Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
Junior Luke Tewalt clocked the second-fastest 1500m time in program history at 3:38.52 and finished in second place, which earned him First-Team All-ACC honors. Additionally, freshman Paul Specht (3:43.61) finished ninth in the event.
Tewalt came back just a few hours later to claim his second silver medal of the afternoon in the 5000m final. He clocked 13:50.57 for another First-Team All-ACC nod.
In the women's discus, graduate student Leia Braunagel (54.89m) and sophomore Ashlyn Giles (51.18m) grabbed third and fifth, respectively. Braunagel claimed First-Team All-ACC honors and Giles' personal-best earned her a spot on the second team. Of note, this marked Giles' second All-ACC nod of the weekend (shot put).
Sophomore Rynard Swanepoel continued his strong outdoor season in the men's 800m, as he took home the silver medal with a time of 1:47.53 and earned himself First-Team All-ACC accolades.
Graduate student Andrew White picked up the first podium finish for the Deacs Saturday as he tossed 57.85m in the men's discus to claim third place. In addition to his bronze medal, the Ohio native notched First-Team All-ACC honors.
Senior Emma Soderstrom joined the First-Team All-ACC club as well, as the senior cleared 1.79m in the women's high jump for third place in the event.
Of note, graduate student Lydia van Djik recorded a top-10 finish in the 1,500m final, while freshman Elizabeth Whaley recorded a personal-best in the 5,000m final.
All-ACC Honors
- First Team
- Luke Tewalt, 1500m
- Luke Tewalt, 5000m
- Rynard Swanepoel, 800m
- Leia Braunagel, Discus
- Emma Soderstrom, High Jump
- Andew White, Discus
- Second Team
- Ashlyn Giles, Shot Put/Discus
- Zach Facioni, 10,000m
- Jack Pihlkar, Hammer
- Anna Bush, Heptathlon
Notable Weekend Finishes
- Men's 1500m Final
- 2) Luke Tewalt, 3:38.52
- 9) Paul Specht, 3:43.61
- Men's 5000m Final
- 2) Luke Tewalt, 13:50.57
- Men's 800m Final
- 2) Rynard Swanepoel, 1:47.53
- Women's Discus
- 3) Leia Braunagel, 54.89m
- 5) Ashlyn Giles, 51.18m
- Women's High Jump
- 3) Emma Soderstrom, 1.79m
- Men's Discus
- 3) Andrew White, 57.85m
- Women's Shot Put
- 4) Ashlyn Giles, 16.73m
- Men's 10,000m Final
- 4) Zach Facioni, 30:21.66
- Men's Hammer
- 5) Jack Pihlkar, 62.44m
- 8) Andrew White, 60.76m
- Heptathlon
- 6) Anna Bush, 5368 points
- Women's 10,000m Final
- 8) Carolien Millenaar, 33:54.07
- Men's Shot Put
- 9) Connor Mathis, 16.61m
- 10) Mason Ellis, 16.53m
- Women's 3000m Steeplechase Final
- 9) Elise Wright, 10:14.31
- Women's Long Jump
- 10) Robbie Grace, 5.88m
- Women's 1500m Final
- 10) Lydia van Dijk, 4:23.72
Women's Team Standings (Points)
- Duke (145.5)
- Virginia Tech (84.5)
- Miami (83)
- Florida State (78)
- Virginia (76.5)
- NC State (73)
- Notre Dame (59)
- North Carolina (47)
- Louisville (39)
- Clemson (34)
- Pitt (25)
- Wake Forest (24.5)
T-13. Georgia Tech (16)
15. Syracuse (14)
Men's Team Standings (Points)
- Clemson (92)
- Florida State (91)
- Louisville (89.5)
- Virginia (89.5)
- Virginia Tech (84.5)
- North Carolina (73.5)
- Miami (59)
- Duke (51)
- Notre Dame (42)
- Wake Forest (40)
- Syracuse (36)
- Pitt (27)
- NC State (23)
- Georgia Tech (15)
From Friday
Giles (16.73m) set a new program record in the women's shot put and picked up an All-ACC nod along the way. She improved her own previous school record by 0.58m for a fourth-place finish.
Graduate student Anna Bush earned All-ACC honors in the heptathlon after finishing in sixth-place. She finished in the top-six in three of the seven events, including a third-place finish in the high jump (1.69m).
In the men's shot put, senior Connor Mathis tossed a personal-best 16.61m for a ninth-place finish, while junior Mason Ellis (16.53m) finished 10th.
Sophomore Rynard Swanepoel (1:48.65) qualified for the men's 800m final after winning Heat 4 in the prelims. Additionally, graduate student Dillon Aryeh (1:48.76) finished with the 10th-fastest time and a personal best in the event.
From Thursday
Graduate student Jack Pihlkar earned All-ACC honors as he tossed 62.44m in the men's hammer for a fifth-place finish. Additionally, graduate student Andrew White grabbed eighth, throwing 60.76m in the event.
In the final event of day one, graduate student Zach Facioni (30.21.66) claimed All-ACC honors as he finished fourth in the 10,000m.
In the women's 1500m prelims, graduate student Lydia van Dijk clocked a personal best 4:18.79 for the sixth-fastest time and qualified for the final. In the men's 1500m prelims, freshman Paul Specht (3:46.55) and junior Luke Tewalt (3:47.06) finished in first and second of their heat to advance to the final.
Graduate student Carolien Millenaar finished with a personal-best 33:54.07 in the women's 10,000m and recorded an eighth-place finish.
Four events into the heptathlon, graduate student Anna Bush (3271 points) and junior Addison Berry (3201 points) sit in eighth and ninth, respectively. The final three events (Long Jump, Javelin, 800m) will take place Friday, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
From the Staff
"I believe that my staff did a great job preparing our team for the strong competition in the ACC. We really had some great efforts from across all of the event areas. The kids worked hard, and many of them will now advance to the NCAA East preliminary in Jacksonville." - Director of track & field and cross country John Hayes
"It was a complete team effort this weekend with points scored in every event group. I'm proud of all our athletes who competed to the best of their ability and made our Demon Deacon family proud. We secured a handful of additional NCAA First Round qualifiers and I can't wait to see what the Deacs do in Jacksonville in two weeks." - Associate head coach Ashley Bastron
"What a fun, stressful and exhilarating championship meet. The athletes competed with passion, and the results show it. I'm very proud of this group." - Associate head coach Collin Post
Coming soon. - Assistant coach Brandon Hazouri
"It was a solid meet for this group of multis and jumpers. The weekend was all about showing up and competing hard no matter what. I'm especially proud of Anna Bush and Emma Soderstrom for doing just that—and putting some points on the team scoreboard!"- Assistant coach Holly Hankenson
Up Next
The Deacs will now look ahead to the NCAA East Preliminary Track & Field Championships (May 24-27) in Jacksonville, Fla.
Follow The Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Multi
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Multi
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Multi
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
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