Friday, September 12
Charlotte, N.C.
Wake Forest University
vs
Queen City Invite
Women’s Cross Country Set for Season Opener at Queen City Invite
9/11/2025 10:30:00 AM | Cross Country
Thirteen Demon Deacons will compete in the 5K race at 6 p.m.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Following a productive preseason, the Wake Forest women's cross country team is set to open their 2025 season this upcoming Friday in Charlotte at the Queen City Invite, hosted by Queens University at McAlpine Creek Park.
The Demon Deacons will have 13 runners compete in the 5K race, which is set to begin at 6 p.m. Live results will be posted throughout the race here.
Need to Know
Queen City Invite
Fri., Sept. 12, 2025 - 6 p.m.
Charlotte, N.C. - McAlpine Creek Park
The Field
Deacs in Action
Preseason Rankings
The Wake Forest women's cross country team heads into the 2025 season ranked fourth in the USTFCCCA Southeast Region preseason poll, sitting just behind ACC rivals NC State, North Carolina and Virginia. The Deacs also enter the regular season ranked 30th in the overall USTFCCCA preseason poll.
USTFCCCA Southeast Region Preseason Poll
Meet the Squad
The Demon Deacons return 13 members from last season's squad and are led by seniors Mackenzie Hart and Elizabeth Whaley.
Mackenzie Hart | Senior | Saratoga Springs, N.Y. | Saratoga Springs High School
Hart competed in five meets during her junior season, including the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals and the ACC Cross Country Championships. Hart also set multiple career-bests in both the 5K and 6K last season, having placed 11th in the 5K race with a time of 21:25.2 to help the Deacs place first at the Firetower Project CC meet, as well as finishing the 5K course at the Royals Challenge in 17:31.7 to place 12th.
Elizabeth Whaley | Senior | Cincinnati, Ohio | Indian Hill High School
Whaley capped off a solid junior campaign last season as she was one of three Demon Deacons to earn All-Southeast Region honors, having crossed the finish line in 23rd-place at the 2024 NCAA Southeast Region Cross Country Championship. Whaley also set a new personal-best time in the 6K during the ACC Cross Country Championships, posting a time of 20:46.42. She also placed sixth at the Firetower Project CC meet, helping the Deacs claim first-place as a team.
In addition to their two returning seniors, the Demon Deacons are also led by five third-year runners, including All-ACC and All-Region honorees Angelina Perez and Brooke Wilson, as well as Alyssa Preisano, Palmer Walstad, and Grace Wassell.
Angelina Perez | Junior | Ringwood, N.J. | Lakeland Regional High School/Florida
In her first season with the Demon Deacons, Perez earned both All-ACC and All-Southeast Region honors, finishing in 10th-place at the NCAA Southeast Region Cross Country Championships, and 15th at the 2024 ACC Cross Country Championships. Perez also claimed second-place during her debut race to help the Demon Deacons finish first at the Firetower Project CC meet.
Alyssa Preisano | Redshirt Sophomore | Waxhaw, N.C. | Cuthbertson High School
Despite missing all of last season, Preisano brings championship experience to the Demon Deacon squad, having previously competed at both the NCAA Southeast Region Cross Country Championships and the ACC Cross Country Championships during her freshman season.
Palmer Walstad | Junior | Atlanta, Ga. | Westminster School
After a successful freshman season, where she secured a ninth-place finish at the Hokie Open and helped the Deacs secure a pair of victories at the Hokie Open and the Covered Bridge Open, Walstad competed in both the Firetower Project CC and the Royals Challenge during her sophomore year.
Grace Wassell | Junior | Hammonton, N.J. | Highland Regional High School
Wassell competed in both the ACC Cross Country Championships and the NCAA Southeast Region Cross Country Championships during her second season with the Deacs. During the regular season, Wassell became the first Demon Deacon since the 2023 season to earn ACC Performer of the Week following a fourth-place finish at the Royals Challenge, posting a new-personal best time of 17:17.1 in the process.
Brooke Wilson | Junior | Castle Rock, Colo. | Valor Christian High School
After earning All-ACC honors as a freshman, Wilson followed it up by earning her second-consecutive All-ACC honor following a 19th-place finish at the ACC Cross Country Championships, as well as All-Southeast Region honors during her sophomore season.
The Demon Deacons also return five sophomores in Emma DeVries, Aiden Harrand, Carlita Kaliher, Mia Prok, and Amy Weybrecht, all of which made significant impacts during their first collegiate season last year.
Emma DeVries | Sophomore | Grand Rapids, Mich. | West Michigan Aviation Academy
DeVries competed in both the Firetower Project CC meet and the Royals Challenge during her first collegiate season.
Aiden Harrand | Sophomore | Buckley, Mich. | Buckley High School
Harrand competed at the ACC Cross Country Championships during her debut season. She also placed 10th at the Royals Challenge, crossing the line with a time of 17:29.20.
Carlita Kaliher | Sophomore | Wilmington, Del. | Tatnall High School
During her freshman season, Kaliher competed in both the Firetower Project CC meet and the Royals Challenge.
Mia Prok | Sophomore | Niwot, Colo. | Niwot High School
Prok competed in the 6K at the Firetower Project CC meet, as well as the 5K at the Royals Challenge, in her only action during the 2024 season.
Amy Weybrecht | Sophomore | Gates Mills, Ohio | Gilmour Academy
Weybrecht also competed in both the Firetower Project CC meet and the Royals Challenge during her freshman campaign.
Wake Forest also added seven new members to the team, including transfers Issy Goldstein, Katherine Lawson, and Maisie Wilmer.
Both Goldstein and Wilmer are graduate transfers, with Goldstein having competed in the NCAA Northeast Region and NCAA Cross Country Championships during her freshman season at Harvard, and Wilmer joining the Deacs from Loughborough in England. Meanwhile, Lawson joined the Demon Deacons midway through the year last season, competing at both the Wake Forest Invitational and the Duke Twilight meet during the outdoor track season. Prior to joining Wake Forest, Lawson earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors in 2024, as well as being named Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and Third Team All-Conference in 2023 with James Madison.
The Deacs also added four freshmen as part of their 2025 recruiting class, with Robin Kucler, Victoria Rodriguez, Charlotte Tuxbury, and Mia Williams set to make a mark during their first season with the Demon Deacons.
Up Next
The defending ACC Champion men's team will open their season next Friday, Sept. 19, at the adidas Wolfpack Invitational. The women's team will return to action on Friday, Sept. 26, at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo.
Follow The Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
The Demon Deacons will have 13 runners compete in the 5K race, which is set to begin at 6 p.m. Live results will be posted throughout the race here.
Need to Know
Queen City Invite
Fri., Sept. 12, 2025 - 6 p.m.
Charlotte, N.C. - McAlpine Creek Park
The Field
- Augusta
- Belmont Abbey
- Charlotte
- The Citadel
- Emory
- Fayetteville State
- Francis Marion
- King
- Mars Hill
- Milligan
- Montreat
- Queens (N.C.) - Host
- Roanoke
- USC Upstate
- Wake Forest
- Wingate
- Wofford
Deacs in Action
- Issy Goldstein
- Aiden Harrand
- Mackenzie Hart
- Carlita Kaliher
- Katherine Lawson
- Angelina Perez
- Alyssa Preisano
- Mia Prok
- Charlotte Tuxbury
- Palmer Walstad
- Amy Weybrecht
- Mia Williams
- Maisie Wilmer
Preseason Rankings
The Wake Forest women's cross country team heads into the 2025 season ranked fourth in the USTFCCCA Southeast Region preseason poll, sitting just behind ACC rivals NC State, North Carolina and Virginia. The Deacs also enter the regular season ranked 30th in the overall USTFCCCA preseason poll.
USTFCCCA Southeast Region Preseason Poll
| Rank | School | Conference |
| 1. | NC State | Atlantic Coast |
| 2. | North Carolina | Atlantic Coast |
| 3. | Virginia | Atlantic Coast |
| 4. | Wake Forest | Atlantic Coast |
| 5. | South Carolina | Southeast Conference |
Meet the Squad
The Demon Deacons return 13 members from last season's squad and are led by seniors Mackenzie Hart and Elizabeth Whaley.
Mackenzie Hart | Senior | Saratoga Springs, N.Y. | Saratoga Springs High School
Hart competed in five meets during her junior season, including the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals and the ACC Cross Country Championships. Hart also set multiple career-bests in both the 5K and 6K last season, having placed 11th in the 5K race with a time of 21:25.2 to help the Deacs place first at the Firetower Project CC meet, as well as finishing the 5K course at the Royals Challenge in 17:31.7 to place 12th.
Elizabeth Whaley | Senior | Cincinnati, Ohio | Indian Hill High School
Whaley capped off a solid junior campaign last season as she was one of three Demon Deacons to earn All-Southeast Region honors, having crossed the finish line in 23rd-place at the 2024 NCAA Southeast Region Cross Country Championship. Whaley also set a new personal-best time in the 6K during the ACC Cross Country Championships, posting a time of 20:46.42. She also placed sixth at the Firetower Project CC meet, helping the Deacs claim first-place as a team.
In addition to their two returning seniors, the Demon Deacons are also led by five third-year runners, including All-ACC and All-Region honorees Angelina Perez and Brooke Wilson, as well as Alyssa Preisano, Palmer Walstad, and Grace Wassell.
Angelina Perez | Junior | Ringwood, N.J. | Lakeland Regional High School/Florida
In her first season with the Demon Deacons, Perez earned both All-ACC and All-Southeast Region honors, finishing in 10th-place at the NCAA Southeast Region Cross Country Championships, and 15th at the 2024 ACC Cross Country Championships. Perez also claimed second-place during her debut race to help the Demon Deacons finish first at the Firetower Project CC meet.
Alyssa Preisano | Redshirt Sophomore | Waxhaw, N.C. | Cuthbertson High School
Despite missing all of last season, Preisano brings championship experience to the Demon Deacon squad, having previously competed at both the NCAA Southeast Region Cross Country Championships and the ACC Cross Country Championships during her freshman season.
Palmer Walstad | Junior | Atlanta, Ga. | Westminster School
After a successful freshman season, where she secured a ninth-place finish at the Hokie Open and helped the Deacs secure a pair of victories at the Hokie Open and the Covered Bridge Open, Walstad competed in both the Firetower Project CC and the Royals Challenge during her sophomore year.
Grace Wassell | Junior | Hammonton, N.J. | Highland Regional High School
Wassell competed in both the ACC Cross Country Championships and the NCAA Southeast Region Cross Country Championships during her second season with the Deacs. During the regular season, Wassell became the first Demon Deacon since the 2023 season to earn ACC Performer of the Week following a fourth-place finish at the Royals Challenge, posting a new-personal best time of 17:17.1 in the process.
Brooke Wilson | Junior | Castle Rock, Colo. | Valor Christian High School
After earning All-ACC honors as a freshman, Wilson followed it up by earning her second-consecutive All-ACC honor following a 19th-place finish at the ACC Cross Country Championships, as well as All-Southeast Region honors during her sophomore season.
The Demon Deacons also return five sophomores in Emma DeVries, Aiden Harrand, Carlita Kaliher, Mia Prok, and Amy Weybrecht, all of which made significant impacts during their first collegiate season last year.
Emma DeVries | Sophomore | Grand Rapids, Mich. | West Michigan Aviation Academy
DeVries competed in both the Firetower Project CC meet and the Royals Challenge during her first collegiate season.
Aiden Harrand | Sophomore | Buckley, Mich. | Buckley High School
Harrand competed at the ACC Cross Country Championships during her debut season. She also placed 10th at the Royals Challenge, crossing the line with a time of 17:29.20.
Carlita Kaliher | Sophomore | Wilmington, Del. | Tatnall High School
During her freshman season, Kaliher competed in both the Firetower Project CC meet and the Royals Challenge.
Mia Prok | Sophomore | Niwot, Colo. | Niwot High School
Prok competed in the 6K at the Firetower Project CC meet, as well as the 5K at the Royals Challenge, in her only action during the 2024 season.
Amy Weybrecht | Sophomore | Gates Mills, Ohio | Gilmour Academy
Weybrecht also competed in both the Firetower Project CC meet and the Royals Challenge during her freshman campaign.
Wake Forest also added seven new members to the team, including transfers Issy Goldstein, Katherine Lawson, and Maisie Wilmer.
Both Goldstein and Wilmer are graduate transfers, with Goldstein having competed in the NCAA Northeast Region and NCAA Cross Country Championships during her freshman season at Harvard, and Wilmer joining the Deacs from Loughborough in England. Meanwhile, Lawson joined the Demon Deacons midway through the year last season, competing at both the Wake Forest Invitational and the Duke Twilight meet during the outdoor track season. Prior to joining Wake Forest, Lawson earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors in 2024, as well as being named Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and Third Team All-Conference in 2023 with James Madison.
The Deacs also added four freshmen as part of their 2025 recruiting class, with Robin Kucler, Victoria Rodriguez, Charlotte Tuxbury, and Mia Williams set to make a mark during their first season with the Demon Deacons.
Up Next
The defending ACC Champion men's team will open their season next Friday, Sept. 19, at the adidas Wolfpack Invitational. The women's team will return to action on Friday, Sept. 26, at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo.
Follow The Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Matt Barrie SportsCenter at Wake Forest with Demond Claiborne
Wednesday, September 10
Matt Barrie SportsCenter on Wake Forest Campus (Arnold Palmer Complex)
Wednesday, September 10
Football Media Availability (9/9/25)
Wednesday, September 10
Wake Forest Football vs Western Carolina | Cinematic Recap
Tuesday, September 09