Wednesday, May 28
Jacksonville, Fla.
Wake Forest University
vs
NCAA First Round East Region
Demon Deacons Travel to Jacksonville for NCAA East Region First Round
5/27/2025 2:22:00 PM | Track and Field
Fourteen Deacs will compete throughout four days of competition beginning on Wednesday afternoon.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Following a solid outing at the 2025 ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the Wake Forest track and field program will continue postseason competition at the NCAA East Region First Round meet at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium.
The Demon Deacons will have 14 athletes, seven men and seven women, competing throughout the four days of competition spanning from May 28-31.
The NCAA East Region First Round will be streamed live on ESPN+, while live results will be posted throughout each day of competition here.
Need to Know
Deacs in Action
Men Women
Ticket Information
Tickets for the NCAA East Region First Round meet can be purchased online via Ticket Return. Single day tickets cost $21 for adults and $16 for youth and students. Full session packages are also available, including All-Session Youth/Student tickets for $57.50 and All-Session Adult tickets for $77.50.
Meet Schedule
Wednesday, May 28
Thursday, May 29
Friday, May 30
Saturday, May 31
The John Hayes Era
Across his eight seasons as the director of the Wake Forest Track and Cross Country programs, head coach John Hayes has helped the Demon Deacons rise to the highest ranks in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Under his leadership, the Deacs have claimed two ACC championships in men's cross country over the past three seasons, including their most recent title during the 2024 season. The men's cross country team has also finished inside the top-10 at the NCAA Cross Country championships three times during Hayes' tenure, including a seventh place finish in 2024 and a program-best fifth place finish in 2022. Hayes, who was named both Southeast Region and ACC Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2024, has also produced six All-Americans in cross country, with Charlie Sprott becoming the most recent All-American after a 32nd place finish during the 2024 NCAA Championships.
Along with his achievements in cross country, Hayes has also helped guide the Deacs into success in both indoor and outdoor track and field. In total, the Demon Deacons have earned 122 All-ACC honors, as well as four individual ACC Championships over the past eight seasons.
In outdoor track and field alone, the Deacs have earned 69 All-ACC honors under Hayes, as well as an individual ACC championship by Thomas Vanoppen in the 1500m back in 2022.
Postseason Momentum
The Demon Deacons started their postseason action with a strong showing at the 2025 ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, bringing home nine Second Team All-ACC honors on their home track at Kentner Stadium.
Senior Rynard Swanepoel notched a season-best performance in the men's 800m final, coming across the finish line at 1:46.29 to secure a fourth place finish. Senior Luke Tewalt grabbed two All-ACC honors as he finished in fourth in the 5000m, and fifth in the 1500m. Junior Paul Specht and sophomore Rocky Hansen also earned Second Team All-ACC honors in the men's 1500m, with Specht finishing in fourth at 3:45.33, and Hansen earning sixth place with a time of 3:45.73. Freshman Hunter Jones rounded out the All-ACC honors on the men's side as he placed fifth in the 3000m steeplechase.
On the women's side, freshman Rosalind Gergely recorded a new personal best in the women's javelin, recording a throw of 49.08m to earn fifth place in her first ACC Outdoor Championships. Also in her first ACC Outdoor Championships, freshman Seren Rodgers battled back to place sixth in the heptathlon with a score of 5,094 points, which is the eighth best mark in school history. Graduate student Rylan Engels closed out the meet for the Deacs with a personal-best time of 4:14.67 in the women's 1500m, earning a sixth place finish and moving herself into third in the 1500m in Wake Forest history.
Last Time Out at the NCAA East Regional
During the 2024 NCAA East Regional, four Demon Deacons punched their tickets to the NCAA Track and Field National Championships.
Swanepoel led the way as the Johannesburg, South Africa, native set both the Wake Forest program record and the facility record in the men's 800m quarterfinals, finishing first in his heat at 1:45.28. Meanwhile, Hansen booked his spot in the 500m finals, finishing fourth in the semifinal round with a time of 13:52.18.
Robbie Grace recorded a ninth place finish in the women's long jump semifinals with a jump of 6.24m, earning her spot in the finals. Finally, Leia Braunagel finished in 11th in the first round of the women's discus competition, recording a best throw of 54.89m to become the fourth and final Deac to earn their spot in Eugene.
2025 Outdoor Track and Field Top-10 Marks in School History
Up Next
The 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon from June 11-14.
Follow the Deacs
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Demon Deacons will have 14 athletes, seven men and seven women, competing throughout the four days of competition spanning from May 28-31.
The NCAA East Region First Round will be streamed live on ESPN+, while live results will be posted throughout each day of competition here.
Need to Know
- 2025 NCAA East Region First Round
- Wednesday, May 28 - 10 a.m.
- Thursday, May 29 - 10 a.m.
- Friday, May 30 - 1 p.m.
- Saturday, May 31 - 1 p.m.
Deacs in Action
Men Women
- Emma Douglass
- Rylan Engels
- Elizabeth Whaley
- Angelina Perez
- Isabella Gera
- Rosalind Gergely
- Julia Pinter
Ticket Information
Tickets for the NCAA East Region First Round meet can be purchased online via Ticket Return. Single day tickets cost $21 for adults and $16 for youth and students. Full session packages are also available, including All-Session Youth/Student tickets for $57.50 and All-Session Adult tickets for $77.50.
Meet Schedule
Wednesday, May 28
- Field Events
- 10 a.m. - Men's Hammer
- 2:30 p.m. - Men's Javelin
- 4:30 p.m. - Men's Long Jump
- 5:30 p.m. - Men's Pole Vault
- 6 p.m. - Men's Shot Put
- Track Events
- 6 p.m. - Men's 110m Hurdles
- 6:30 p.m. - Men's 1500m
- 7 p.m. - Men's 100m
- 7:25 p.m. - Men's 400m
- 7:50 p.m. - Men's 800m
- 8:20 p.m. - Men's 400m Hurdles
- 8:45 p.m. - Men's 200m
- 9:10 p.m. - Men's 10,000m
Thursday, May 29
- Field Events
- 10 a.m. - Women's Hammer
- 2:30 p.m. - Women's Javelin
- 4:30 p.m. - Women's Long Jump
- 5:30 p.m. - Women's Pole Vault
- 6 p.m. - Women's Shot Put
- Track Events
- 6 p.m. - Women's 110m Hurdles
- 6:30 p.m. - Women's 1500m
- 7 p.m. - Women's 100m
- 7:25 p.m. - Women's 400m
- 7:50 p.m. - Women's 800m
- 8:20 p.m. - Women's 400m Hurdles
- 8:45 p.m. - Women's 200m
- 9:10 p.m. - Women's 10,000m
Friday, May 30
- Field Events
- 1 p.m. - Men's Discus
- 2:30 p.m. - Men's Triple Jump
- 3:30 p.m. - Men's High Jump
- Track Events
- 5 p.m. - Men's 4x100m Relay
- 5:15 p.m. - Men's 1500m
- 5:40 p.m. - Men's 3000m Steeplechase
- 6:15 p.m. - Men's 110m Hurdles
- 6:35 p.m. - Men's 100m
- 6:50 p.m. - Men's 400m
- 7:05 - Men's 800m
- 7:25 p.m. - Men's 400m Hurdles
- 7:50 p.m. - Men's 200m Hurdles
- 8:10 p.m. - Men's 5000m
- 8:45 p.m. - Men's 4x400m Relay
Saturday, May 31
- Field Events
- 1 p.m. - Women's Discus
- 2:30 p.m. - Women's Triple Jump
- 3:30 p.m. - Women's High Jump
- Track Events
- 5 p.m. - Women's 4x100m Relay
- 5:15 p.m. - Women's 1500m
- 5:40 p.m. - Women's 3000m Steeplechase
- 6:15 p.m. - Women's 110m Hurdles
- 6:35 p.m. - Women's 100m
- 6:50 p.m. - Women's 400m
- 7:05 - Women's 800m
- 7:25 p.m. - Women's 400m Hurdles
- 7:50 p.m. - Women's 200m Hurdles
- 8:10 p.m. - Women's 5000m
- 8:45 p.m. - Women's 4x400m Relay
The John Hayes Era
Across his eight seasons as the director of the Wake Forest Track and Cross Country programs, head coach John Hayes has helped the Demon Deacons rise to the highest ranks in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Under his leadership, the Deacs have claimed two ACC championships in men's cross country over the past three seasons, including their most recent title during the 2024 season. The men's cross country team has also finished inside the top-10 at the NCAA Cross Country championships three times during Hayes' tenure, including a seventh place finish in 2024 and a program-best fifth place finish in 2022. Hayes, who was named both Southeast Region and ACC Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2024, has also produced six All-Americans in cross country, with Charlie Sprott becoming the most recent All-American after a 32nd place finish during the 2024 NCAA Championships.
Along with his achievements in cross country, Hayes has also helped guide the Deacs into success in both indoor and outdoor track and field. In total, the Demon Deacons have earned 122 All-ACC honors, as well as four individual ACC Championships over the past eight seasons.
In outdoor track and field alone, the Deacs have earned 69 All-ACC honors under Hayes, as well as an individual ACC championship by Thomas Vanoppen in the 1500m back in 2022.
Postseason Momentum
The Demon Deacons started their postseason action with a strong showing at the 2025 ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, bringing home nine Second Team All-ACC honors on their home track at Kentner Stadium.
Senior Rynard Swanepoel notched a season-best performance in the men's 800m final, coming across the finish line at 1:46.29 to secure a fourth place finish. Senior Luke Tewalt grabbed two All-ACC honors as he finished in fourth in the 5000m, and fifth in the 1500m. Junior Paul Specht and sophomore Rocky Hansen also earned Second Team All-ACC honors in the men's 1500m, with Specht finishing in fourth at 3:45.33, and Hansen earning sixth place with a time of 3:45.73. Freshman Hunter Jones rounded out the All-ACC honors on the men's side as he placed fifth in the 3000m steeplechase.
On the women's side, freshman Rosalind Gergely recorded a new personal best in the women's javelin, recording a throw of 49.08m to earn fifth place in her first ACC Outdoor Championships. Also in her first ACC Outdoor Championships, freshman Seren Rodgers battled back to place sixth in the heptathlon with a score of 5,094 points, which is the eighth best mark in school history. Graduate student Rylan Engels closed out the meet for the Deacs with a personal-best time of 4:14.67 in the women's 1500m, earning a sixth place finish and moving herself into third in the 1500m in Wake Forest history.
Last Time Out at the NCAA East Regional
During the 2024 NCAA East Regional, four Demon Deacons punched their tickets to the NCAA Track and Field National Championships.
Swanepoel led the way as the Johannesburg, South Africa, native set both the Wake Forest program record and the facility record in the men's 800m quarterfinals, finishing first in his heat at 1:45.28. Meanwhile, Hansen booked his spot in the 500m finals, finishing fourth in the semifinal round with a time of 13:52.18.
Robbie Grace recorded a ninth place finish in the women's long jump semifinals with a jump of 6.24m, earning her spot in the finals. Finally, Leia Braunagel finished in 11th in the first round of the women's discus competition, recording a best throw of 54.89m to become the fourth and final Deac to earn their spot in Eugene.
2025 Outdoor Track and Field Top-10 Marks in School History
- Men's 1500m
- 1st - JoJo Jourdon (3:37.00)
- 4th - Rocky Hansen (3:38.74)
- 5th - Paul Specht (3:39.42)
- 6th - Rynard Swanepoel (3:39.67)
- Men's 3000m Steeplechase
- 3rd - Hunter Jones (8:46.86)
- Men's 5000m
- 1st - Rocky Hansen (13:22.06)
- 3rd - Luke Tewalt (13:28.18)
- 4th - Joe O'Brien (13:32.97)
- 7th - Luke Tewalt (13:40.50)
- 8th - Charlie Sprott (13:40.71)
- 9th - JoJo Jourdon (13:46.76)
- Men's 800m
- 2nd - Rynard Swanepoel (1:46.29)
- Men's 10,000m
- 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)
- 9th - Hunter Jones (29:09.37)
- Women's 400m
- 7th - Emma Douglass (55.76)
- 10th - Aria Weigh (56.46)
- Women's 400m Hurdles
- 5th - Aria Weigh (59.66)
- Women's 800m
- 1st - Emma Douglass (2:03.25)
- 8th - Rylan Engels (2:07.01)
- Women's 1500m
- 1st - Emma Douglass (4:13.94)
- 3rd - Rylan Engels (4:14.67)
- 4th - Elizabeth Whaley (4:15.05)
- Women's 5000m
- 2nd - Brooke Wilson (15:47.74.)
- Women's 10,000m
- 1st - Brooke Wilson (32:50.07)
- 4th - Angelina Perez (33:23.72)
- Women's Long Jump
- 10th - Bridget McNally (5.72m)
- Women's Hammer Throw
- 8th - Kristyna Peterova (52.27m)
- Women's Shot Put
- 4th - Isabella Gera (15.66m)
- Women's Javelin
- 5th - Rosalind Gergely (49.08m)
- 7th - Julia Pinter (46.49m)
- Women's Heptathlon
- 8th - Seren Rodgers (5,094 points)
Up Next
The 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon from June 11-14.
Follow the Deacs
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Players Mentioned
Distance
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Distance/Mid Distance
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Throws
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Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Jumps
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Distance
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Weight/Hammer
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Throws
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Jumps/Multis
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Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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