Wednesday, June 11
Eugene, Ore.
Wake Forest University
vs
NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Four Demon Deacons Ready to Compete at NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
6/10/2025 11:29:00 AM | Track and Field
Senior Rynard Swanepoel kicks the meet off for the Deacs in the men’s 800m semifinals on Wednesday, while senior Luke Tewalt, sophomore Rocky Hansen, and freshman JoJo Jourdon compete for an NCAA title in the men’s 5000m on Friday.
EUGENE, Ore. – After an impressive showing at the NCAA East Region First Round in Jacksonville, the Wake Forest Track and Field team is set to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships from June 11-14 at Hayward Field.
In total, the Demon Deacons will be sending four individuals to the NCAA Championships, including three competing for an NCAA individual title in the men's 5000m.
Senior Rynard Swanepoel will start the meet off for the Deacs as he is set to compete in the semifinals of the men's 800m on Wednesday, with the finals scheduled for Friday evening.
Meanwhile, after finishing in the top five of their semifinal heat at the NCAA East Region First Round, senior Luke Tewalt, sophomore Rocky Hansen and freshman JoJo Jourdon will all be looking to claim an NCAA individual title in the men's 5000m on Friday.
Live coverage of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be available on the ESPN family of networks, with the first day of action being streamed on ESPN, and Friday's championship round being streamed on ESPN2. Live results will also be available throughout the meet here.
Need to Know
Deacs in Action
Ticket Information
Tickets for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships are available through Ticketmaster. Single day tickets range from $25 to $40 per person. All-Session ticket packages are also available, ranging between $100 and $150.
Meet Schedule (All Times in PT)
Wednesday, June 11
Friday, June 13
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.
Running Rhino
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, Ky.
Terrific Trio
Three Demon Deacons earned their spot in the men's 5000m final during the NCAA East Region First Round meet, with senior Luke Tewalt, sophomore Rocky Hansen, and freshman JoJo Jourdon all placing in the top five of their qualifying 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, Jourdon added onto his phenomenal debut season by placing fourth at 13:53.89 to claim his spot at the NCAA Championships.
Last Time Out at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The Demon Deacons sent four individuals to compete in the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, including both Hansen and Swanepoel. Swanepoel closed out his junior season during the men's 800m semifinals, finishing at 1:47.44 to earn Second Team All-American honors. Meanwhile, Hansen capped off an incredible debut season for the Deacs, finishing in 16th at 14:04.44 to claim Second Team All-American honors.
In addition to Hansen and Swanepoel, seniors Robbie Grace and Leia Braunagel both earned All-American status, with Grace finishing in ninth with a jump of 6.31m in the women's long jump final to earn Second Team honors, while Braunagel was named an All-American Honorable Mention following a 21st-place result in the women's discus.
2025 Outdoor Track and Field Top-10 Marks in School History
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In total, the Demon Deacons will be sending four individuals to the NCAA Championships, including three competing for an NCAA individual title in the men's 5000m.
Senior Rynard Swanepoel will start the meet off for the Deacs as he is set to compete in the semifinals of the men's 800m on Wednesday, with the finals scheduled for Friday evening.
Meanwhile, after finishing in the top five of their semifinal heat at the NCAA East Region First Round, senior Luke Tewalt, sophomore Rocky Hansen and freshman JoJo Jourdon will all be looking to claim an NCAA individual title in the men's 5000m on Friday.
Live coverage of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be available on the ESPN family of networks, with the first day of action being streamed on ESPN, and Friday's championship round being streamed on ESPN2. Live results will also be available throughout the meet here.
Need to Know
- 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (All times in PT)
- Wednesday, June 11 - 12 p.m.
- Thursday, June 12 - 9:45 a.m.
- Friday, June 13 - 11:45 a.m.
- Saturday, June 14 - 12:30 p.m.
Deacs in Action
Ticket Information
Tickets for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships are available through Ticketmaster. Single day tickets range from $25 to $40 per person. All-Session ticket packages are also available, ranging between $100 and $150.
Meet Schedule (All Times in PT)
Wednesday, June 11
- 5:58 p.m. - Men's 800m
Friday, June 13
- 6:14 p.m. - Men's 800m
- 6:55 p.m. - Men's 5000m
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.
Running Rhino
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, Ky.
Terrific Trio
Three Demon Deacons earned their spot in the men's 5000m final during the NCAA East Region First Round meet, with senior Luke Tewalt, sophomore Rocky Hansen, and freshman JoJo Jourdon all placing in the top five of their qualifying 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, Jourdon added onto his phenomenal debut season by placing fourth at 13:53.89 to claim his spot at the NCAA Championships.
Last Time Out at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The Demon Deacons sent four individuals to compete in the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, including both Hansen and Swanepoel. Swanepoel closed out his junior season during the men's 800m semifinals, finishing at 1:47.44 to earn Second Team All-American honors. Meanwhile, Hansen capped off an incredible debut season for the Deacs, finishing in 16th at 14:04.44 to claim Second Team All-American honors.
In addition to Hansen and Swanepoel, seniors Robbie Grace and Leia Braunagel both earned All-American status, with Grace finishing in ninth with a jump of 6.31m in the women's long jump final to earn Second Team honors, while Braunagel was named an All-American Honorable Mention following a 21st-place result in the women's discus.
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 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 (4:14.89)
- 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)
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