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Wake Forest Invitational
Demon Deacons Dominate Day Two at Wake Forest Invitational
4/18/2025 11:40:00 PM | Track and Field
The Deacs wrapped up the final day of the third-annual Wake Forest Invitational on Friday evening.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - In front of 500 cheering fans, Wake Forest track & field lit up Kentner Stadium on day two of the 2025 Wake Forest invitational, racking up eight top-five finishes, new personal bests, ACC qualifiers, regional marks–and a monumental program record.
The night belonged to senior Emma Douglass, who blazed through the women's 800m, breaking a 22-year-old school record. With a powerful kick in the final stretch, Douglass crossed in 2:03.49, toppling Nikeya Green's 2003 record of 2:04.46. She not only won her heat but finished fourth overall, marking her second program record this season.
Looking back at the indoor season, she competed at the Eagle Elite Invitational in Boston on Feb. 14, breaking the indoor 800m record with a time of 2:03.95.
She now ranks No. 18 nationally and No. 10 in the East in the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Rankings.
Also returning to the spotlight was senior Rynard Swanepoel, the reigning Kentner Stadium record holder in the 800m. In his 2025 outdoor debut, the South African standout clocked a strong 1:46.36, grabbing second place and showing he's ready to build on last year's success.
The momentum kept building with Rylan Engels, who recorded a personal best in the women's 1500m, winning her heat and placing 20th overall. Her time now ranks her second all-time in Wake Forest outdoor history.
In the men's 1500m, Rocky Hansen, one of the top young distance runners in the country, finished second in 3:38.75, just ahead of Paul Specht, who secured third with a personal best of 3:39.42.
The 5000m showcased even more power with three-time All-American Luke Tewalt making a statement in his outdoor opener, taking first place in 13:28.18—the third-fastest time in school history. Joe O'Brien wasn't far behind, finishing second in 13:32.97 (now No. 4 all-time), while Charlie Sprott placed sixth in 13:40.71, for seventh in program history.
On the women's side, Brooke Wilson continued her stellar season, running a personal best 15:47.74 to take fifth in the 5000m. The performance moved her to No. 2 on Wake Forest's all-time list, just behind Michelle Sikes' 15:06.28 set in 2007.
Freshman Aria Wegh delivered strong results in the 400m hurdles, placing fifth in 1:00.44, while senior Isabella Gera stepped up in the women's shot put, claiming third place with a personal-best throw of 15.66m, moving her to No. 4 on Wake Forest's all-time list.
Notable Finishes
Men's 1500m
Men's 5000m
"Amazing meet! My staff as well as all of the operations, events and all of the volunteers were tremendous. Our athletes really stepped up in a big way and showed so much pride and fight on our home turf. All of our areas competed so well."- Director of Track & Field and Cross Country John Hayes
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will return to action April 24-26, competing at the Penn Relays.
Follow the Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The night belonged to senior Emma Douglass, who blazed through the women's 800m, breaking a 22-year-old school record. With a powerful kick in the final stretch, Douglass crossed in 2:03.49, toppling Nikeya Green's 2003 record of 2:04.46. She not only won her heat but finished fourth overall, marking her second program record this season.
Looking back at the indoor season, she competed at the Eagle Elite Invitational in Boston on Feb. 14, breaking the indoor 800m record with a time of 2:03.95.
She now ranks No. 18 nationally and No. 10 in the East in the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Rankings.
Also returning to the spotlight was senior Rynard Swanepoel, the reigning Kentner Stadium record holder in the 800m. In his 2025 outdoor debut, the South African standout clocked a strong 1:46.36, grabbing second place and showing he's ready to build on last year's success.
The momentum kept building with Rylan Engels, who recorded a personal best in the women's 1500m, winning her heat and placing 20th overall. Her time now ranks her second all-time in Wake Forest outdoor history.
In the men's 1500m, Rocky Hansen, one of the top young distance runners in the country, finished second in 3:38.75, just ahead of Paul Specht, who secured third with a personal best of 3:39.42.
The 5000m showcased even more power with three-time All-American Luke Tewalt making a statement in his outdoor opener, taking first place in 13:28.18—the third-fastest time in school history. Joe O'Brien wasn't far behind, finishing second in 13:32.97 (now No. 4 all-time), while Charlie Sprott placed sixth in 13:40.71, for seventh in program history.
On the women's side, Brooke Wilson continued her stellar season, running a personal best 15:47.74 to take fifth in the 5000m. The performance moved her to No. 2 on Wake Forest's all-time list, just behind Michelle Sikes' 15:06.28 set in 2007.
Freshman Aria Wegh delivered strong results in the 400m hurdles, placing fifth in 1:00.44, while senior Isabella Gera stepped up in the women's shot put, claiming third place with a personal-best throw of 15.66m, moving her to No. 4 on Wake Forest's all-time list.
Notable Finishes
Men's 1500m
- Rocky Hansen (3:38.74)
- Paul Specht (3:39.42)
- Luke Tewalt (13:28.18)
- Joe O'Brien (13:32.97)
- Charlie Sprott (13:40.71)
- JoJo Jourdon (13:46.76)
- Aria Wegh (1:00.44)
- Emma Douglass (2:03.49)
- Rylan Engels (4:16.37)
- Brooke Wilson (15:47.75)
- Isabella Gera (15.66m)
Men's 5000m
- 1st - Rocky Hansen (13:22.06)
- 3rd - Luke Tewalt (13:28.18)
- 4th - Joe O'Brien (13:32.97)
- 7th - Charlie Sprott (13:40.71)
- 2nd - Joe O'Brien (28:15.43)
- 3rd - Charlie Sprott (28:22.92)
- 4th - Aidan Ross (28:28.14)
- 6th - Daniel Winter (28:59.60)
- 7th - Jackson Keefer (28:59.71)
- 6th - Emma Douglass (55.7)
- 10th - Aria Wegh (56.46)
- 5th - Aria Wegh (59.68)
- 2nd - Emma Douglass (2:04.81)
- 8th - Rylan Engels (2:07.26)
- 8th - Emma Douglass (4:19.73)
- 9th - Rylan Engels (4:20.30)
- 2nd - Brooke Wilson (15:47.74.)
- 1st - Brooke Wilson (32:50.07)
- 4th - Angelina Perez (33:23.72)
- 8th - Kristyna Peterova (50.87m)
- 4th - Isabella Gera (15.66m)
- 5th - Rosalind Gergely (47.51m)
- 6th - Julia Pinter (46.49m)
"Amazing meet! My staff as well as all of the operations, events and all of the volunteers were tremendous. Our athletes really stepped up in a big way and showed so much pride and fight on our home turf. All of our areas competed so well."- Director of Track & Field and Cross Country John Hayes
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will return to action April 24-26, competing at the Penn Relays.
Follow the Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
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