Wake Forest Athletics

Rynard Swanepoel Sets New Wake Forest 800m Record During the Wake Forest Invitational
4/20/2024 12:15:00 AM | Track and Field
Multiple Deacs claimed podium finishes, while setting new meet, personal and program marks.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest men's and women's track and field teams dominated the second-annual Wake Forest Invitational in front of an energetic crowd at Kentner Stadium with nine podium finishes, four top-10 program marks, two meet records and two program records.
Leia Braunagel continued her dominant outdoor season in the women's discus. Last year, Braunagel set the Kentner Stadium top discus mark with a 56.67m throw. The Baden-Baden, Germany native finished first in the event on Friday with a new facility and meet record throw of 59.63m.
Megan Cook added another season-best in the women's hammer at the Wake Forest Invitational. Cook finished second with a program-record 60.21m hammer throw.
In the early slate of throws, Jake Goldberg and Thomas Kitchell notched second place finishes in their respective events. Goldberg claimed the podium finish with a 59.12m throw in the men's hammer. Kitchell secured the second place finish with a 55.11m throw in the men's discus.
Coming off setting the new program record at the Beach Invitational last weekend, Robbie Grace claimed another first place finish in the women's long jump. The graduate student recorded a 6.20m jump to add the second first place finish of the meet for the Deacs.
The evening's events began with amazing performances from Rynard Swanepoel and Jack Balick. Swanepoel claimed first in the 800m Invite with a time of 1:45.84. With that time, the junior set a new personal-best, facility and meet record and the new Wake Forest 800m record. Additionally, that time ranks fourth nationally. Balick also put on a stellar performance and claimed fifth place in the event with a time of 1:47.11. The graduate student set a new personal-best with that time and now holds the fourth fastest time in Wake Forest history.
In the women's high jump, senior Meghan O'Malley tied a season best and claimed a first place finish with a season-best 1.70m jump.
Ashlyn Giles added another first place finish to the Demon Deacons' performances on Friday. Giles earned the top mark with a 15.94m throw in the women's shot put. Additionally, Amanda Schaare finished third in the event with a 15.23m throw. Finally, Isabella Gera tabbed a season-best and the sixth longest throw and a fourth place finish with a 15.12m throw.
In the men's and women's 5,000m events, Brooke Wilson and Rocky Hansen set top-10 program marks and personal-bests. Wilson finished eighth on the women's side with a 15:51.57, a new personal-best and the second-fastest time in program history. Additionally, Hansen finished 13th with a time of 13:44.16, a new personal-best and the fifth-fastest time in program history.
Notable Results
Men's 5,000m
Women's Javelin
Men's Javelin
Women's Hammer
Women's 1500m
Men's Hammer
Women's 400m
Women's Discus
Women's Long Jump
Men's 800m Invite
Men's Discus
Women's High Jump
Women's Shot Put
Women's 5,000m Invite
Men's 5,000m Invite
From the Staff
Coming Soon - director of track & field and cross country John Hayes
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will head to Charlotte for the Charlotte Invitational that will take place from April 26-27.
Follow the Demon Deacons
Social: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
Leia Braunagel continued her dominant outdoor season in the women's discus. Last year, Braunagel set the Kentner Stadium top discus mark with a 56.67m throw. The Baden-Baden, Germany native finished first in the event on Friday with a new facility and meet record throw of 59.63m.
Megan Cook added another season-best in the women's hammer at the Wake Forest Invitational. Cook finished second with a program-record 60.21m hammer throw.
In the early slate of throws, Jake Goldberg and Thomas Kitchell notched second place finishes in their respective events. Goldberg claimed the podium finish with a 59.12m throw in the men's hammer. Kitchell secured the second place finish with a 55.11m throw in the men's discus.
Coming off setting the new program record at the Beach Invitational last weekend, Robbie Grace claimed another first place finish in the women's long jump. The graduate student recorded a 6.20m jump to add the second first place finish of the meet for the Deacs.
The evening's events began with amazing performances from Rynard Swanepoel and Jack Balick. Swanepoel claimed first in the 800m Invite with a time of 1:45.84. With that time, the junior set a new personal-best, facility and meet record and the new Wake Forest 800m record. Additionally, that time ranks fourth nationally. Balick also put on a stellar performance and claimed fifth place in the event with a time of 1:47.11. The graduate student set a new personal-best with that time and now holds the fourth fastest time in Wake Forest history.
In the women's high jump, senior Meghan O'Malley tied a season best and claimed a first place finish with a season-best 1.70m jump.
Ashlyn Giles added another first place finish to the Demon Deacons' performances on Friday. Giles earned the top mark with a 15.94m throw in the women's shot put. Additionally, Amanda Schaare finished third in the event with a 15.23m throw. Finally, Isabella Gera tabbed a season-best and the sixth longest throw and a fourth place finish with a 15.12m throw.
In the men's and women's 5,000m events, Brooke Wilson and Rocky Hansen set top-10 program marks and personal-bests. Wilson finished eighth on the women's side with a 15:51.57, a new personal-best and the second-fastest time in program history. Additionally, Hansen finished 13th with a time of 13:44.16, a new personal-best and the fifth-fastest time in program history.
Notable Results
Men's 5,000m
- 10th - Mark Trammell - 14:27.38
Women's Javelin
- 6th - Anna Bush - 32.72m
- 9th - Clara Fallenius - 21.29m
Men's Javelin
- 5th - Paris Husic - 50.52m
- 10th - Walker Reynolds - 44.51m
Women's Hammer
- 2nd - Megan Cook - 60.21m, season-best, longest throw in program history
- 7th - Isabella Gera - 55.23m
Women's 1500m
- 5th - Alyssa Preisano - 4:26.63
Men's Hammer
- 2nd - Jake Goldberg - 59.12m
Women's 400m
- 6th - Gabby Johnson - 56.75
Women's Discus
- 1st - Leia Braunagel - 56.93m, facility record and meet record
- 4th - Ashlyn Giles - 50.01m
Women's Long Jump
- 1st - Robbie Grace - 6.20m
- 8th - Clara Fallenius - 5.53m
Men's 800m Invite
- 1st - Rynard Swanepoel - 1:45.84, personal-best, meet and facility record, fastest 800m time in program history
- 5th - Jack Balick - 1:47.11 - personal-best, fourth-fastest 800m time in program history
Men's Discus
- 2nd - Thomas Kitchell - 55.11m
- 6th - Connor Mathis - 51.06m
Women's High Jump
- 1st - Meghan O'Malley - 1.70m, tied season-best
- 5th - Abby Stankus - 1.60m
Women's Shot Put
- 1st - Ashlyn Giles - 15.94m
- 3rd - Amanda Schaare - 15.23m
- 4th - Isabella Gera - 15.12m, season-best, sixth longest throw in program history
Women's 5,000m Invite
- 8th - Brooke Wilson - 15:51.57, personal-best, second-fastest time in program history
Men's 5,000m Invite
- 13th - Rocky Hansen - 13:44.16, personal-best, fifth-fastest time in program history
From the Staff
Coming Soon - director of track & field and cross country John Hayes
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will head to Charlotte for the Charlotte Invitational that will take place from April 26-27.
Follow the Demon Deacons
Social: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
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