Wednesday, May 28
Jacksonville, Fla.
Wake Forest University
vs
NCAA First Round East Region
Four Demon Deacons Advance to NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships
5/30/2025 9:01:00 PM | Track and Field
Senior Luke Tewalt, sophomore Rocky Hansen, and freshman JoJo Jourdon finished in the top five of their semifinal heat to qualify for the men’s 5000m finals, while senior Rynard Swanepoel recorded a season-best time of 1:45.42 in his quarterfinal heat to advance to the men’s 800m semifinals.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Wake Forest Track and Field dominated the competition on day three of the NCAA East Region First Round, as four Demon Deacons qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday afternoon, including three individuals earning their spot in the men's 5000m final.
Senior Luke Tewalt and sophomore Rocky Hansen secured their spot in the final of the men's 5000m by finishing first and second in their semifinal heat. Hansen took top prize in the semifinals as he crossed the finish line at 13:36.54, while Tewalt finished just behind in second at 13:39.60.
With their 1-2 finish, Hansen will be returning to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the second season in a row, while Tewalt will make his first appearance in the competition since he placed fourth in the men's 5000m final in 2023.
Meanwhile, freshman JoJo Jourdon joined Hansen and Tewalt in the top five of their semifinal heat, placing fourth at 13:53.89 to qualify for his first NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Senior Rynard Swanepoel notched a season-best time of 1:45.42 to place first in his men's 800m quarterfinal heat, earning him an automatic qualification spot in the semifinals in Oregon for the second-consecutive season. The Johannesburg, South Africa, advanced to the last year's NCAA semifinal after setting both a facility record and program record in the men's 800m quarterfinals at the 2024 NCAA East Region First Round in Lexington, Kentucky.
Elsewhere, junior Paul Specht closed out his season in the men's 1500m quarterfinals after recording a time of 3:46.19 in his heat, while freshman Hunter Jones ended his standout season in the men's 3000m steeplechase quarterfinals after placing ninth in his heat at 8:54.27.
Notable Finishes
Men's 1500m (Quarterfinals)
Men's 3,000m Steeplechase (Quarterfinals)
Men's 800m (Quarterfinals)
Men's 5,000m (Semifinals)
2025 Outdoor Track and Field Top-10 Marks in School History
Up Next
The Demon Deacons close out the NCAA East Region First Round tomorrow as two Deacs are set to compete in the women's 1500m quarterfinals at 5:15 p.m.
Follow the Deacs
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Senior Luke Tewalt and sophomore Rocky Hansen secured their spot in the final of the men's 5000m by finishing first and second in their semifinal heat. Hansen took top prize in the semifinals as he crossed the finish line at 13:36.54, while Tewalt finished just behind in second at 13:39.60.
With their 1-2 finish, Hansen will be returning to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the second season in a row, while Tewalt will make his first appearance in the competition since he placed fourth in the men's 5000m final in 2023.
Meanwhile, freshman JoJo Jourdon joined Hansen and Tewalt in the top five of their semifinal heat, placing fourth at 13:53.89 to qualify for his first NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Senior Rynard Swanepoel notched a season-best time of 1:45.42 to place first in his men's 800m quarterfinal heat, earning him an automatic qualification spot in the semifinals in Oregon for the second-consecutive season. The Johannesburg, South Africa, advanced to the last year's NCAA semifinal after setting both a facility record and program record in the men's 800m quarterfinals at the 2024 NCAA East Region First Round in Lexington, Kentucky.
Elsewhere, junior Paul Specht closed out his season in the men's 1500m quarterfinals after recording a time of 3:46.19 in his heat, while freshman Hunter Jones ended his standout season in the men's 3000m steeplechase quarterfinals after placing ninth in his heat at 8:54.27.
Notable Finishes
Men's 1500m (Quarterfinals)
- Paul Specht - 3:46.19
Men's 3,000m Steeplechase (Quarterfinals)
- Hunter Jones - 8:54.27
Men's 800m (Quarterfinals)
- Rynard Swanepoel - 1:45.42
Men's 5,000m (Semifinals)
- Rocky Hansen - 13:36.54
- Luke Tewalt - 13:39.60
- JoJo Jourdon - 13:53.89
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 - Charlie Sprott (13:40.71)
- 8th - 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 Demon Deacons close out the NCAA East Region First Round tomorrow as two Deacs are set to compete in the women's 1500m quarterfinals at 5:15 p.m.
Follow the Deacs
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
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