Wake Forest Athletics
Thursday, January 29
Lynchburg, VA
Wake Forest University
at
Brant Tolsma Invitational
Specht, Whaley Break Mile Records as Wake Forest Closes Competition at the Brant Tolsma Invitational
1/30/2026 7:55:00 PM | Track and Field
Senior Paul Specht recorded a time of 3:54.60 to claim the program and meet record in the men’s mile, while fellow senior Elizabeth Whaley moved atop the all-time leaderboard in the women’s mile after clocking a time of 4:36.56.
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Seniors Paul Specht and Elizabeth Whaley both broke the program records in both the men's and women's mile on Friday afternoon, highlighting an action packed day as the Wake Forest track and field team closed out competition at the Brant Tolsma Invitational at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex.
Specht claimed a first place finish during the men's indoor mile after clocking a time of 3:54.60. With the result, the Sindelfingen, Germany, native secured both the school record and the Brant Tolsma Invitational record.
A few moments later, Whaley recorded a school record of her own as she crossed the finish line in 4:36.56 to help her take fifth place in the women's mile. The Cincinnati native now sits atop the all-time Wake Forest leaderboard in the women's mile, surpassing the previous record that was set by Mackenna Curtis-Collins during the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, junior Angelina Perez moved into a tie for the seventh-fastest time in Wake Forest history in the mile as she placed eighth overall with a time of 4:41.24.
Two other Demon Deacons recorded ACC standard times in the mile as junior Wes Shipsey finished the men's race in 11th at 4:03.72, while fellow junior Brooke Wilson logged a time of 4:43.15.
Elsewhere, senior Bryce Gilmore recorded a fourth-place finish with a time of 7:50.89 to move himself fourth all-time in the men's 3,000 meters. Meanwhile, freshman Natalia Issler secured a third place result in her collegiate debut in the women's 800 meters, crossing the finish line in 2:05.42, the fourth-fastest result in program history.
Notable Finishes
Men's Mile
2025-26 Indoor Track and Field Top-10 Marks in School History
From the Staff
"We are slowly getting there. We had some nice performances with two school records in the men's and women's mile, plus six total to-10 all-time performances. Several members of our team were exposed and did not do what they were supposed to do over the break. That is quite disappointing. I thought we were long past those days. We have a month to prepare for ACC indoors, and there is still a lot of work to be done." - Director of Track & Field and Cross Country John Hayes
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will be back in action next weekend as they compete in the Camel City Sprints on Friday, Feb. 6, as well as the Camel City Distance meet on Saturday, Feb. 7. Both meets will be held at the JDL Fast Track.
Follow the Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
Specht claimed a first place finish during the men's indoor mile after clocking a time of 3:54.60. With the result, the Sindelfingen, Germany, native secured both the school record and the Brant Tolsma Invitational record.
A few moments later, Whaley recorded a school record of her own as she crossed the finish line in 4:36.56 to help her take fifth place in the women's mile. The Cincinnati native now sits atop the all-time Wake Forest leaderboard in the women's mile, surpassing the previous record that was set by Mackenna Curtis-Collins during the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, junior Angelina Perez moved into a tie for the seventh-fastest time in Wake Forest history in the mile as she placed eighth overall with a time of 4:41.24.
Two other Demon Deacons recorded ACC standard times in the mile as junior Wes Shipsey finished the men's race in 11th at 4:03.72, while fellow junior Brooke Wilson logged a time of 4:43.15.
Elsewhere, senior Bryce Gilmore recorded a fourth-place finish with a time of 7:50.89 to move himself fourth all-time in the men's 3,000 meters. Meanwhile, freshman Natalia Issler secured a third place result in her collegiate debut in the women's 800 meters, crossing the finish line in 2:05.42, the fourth-fastest result in program history.
Notable Finishes
Men's Mile
- Paul Specht - 3:54.60
- Wes Shipsey - 4:03.72
- Bryce Gilmore - 7:50.89
- Natalia Issler - 2:05.42
- Elizabeth Whaley - 4:35.56
- Angelina Perez - 4:41.24
- Brooke Wilson - 4:43.15
2025-26 Indoor Track and Field Top-10 Marks in School History
- Men's 400m
- 5th - Ryan Harper (48.21)
- Men's 600m
- 6th - Max Marino (1:20.96)
- Men's 800m
- 7th - Paul Specht (1:49.34)
- Men's Mile
- 1st - Paul Specht (3:54.60)
- 5th - Bryce Gilmore (3:59.00)
- Men's 3000m
- 4th - Bryce Gilmore (7:50.89)
- Men's 5000m
- 10th - Bryce Gilmore (13:51.24)
- Women's 60m
- 4th - Seren Rodgers (7.86)
- Women's 60m Hurdles
- 4th - Seren Rodgers (8.67)
- Women's 800m
- 4th - Natalia Issler (2:05.42)
- Women's 1000m
- 2nd - Amy Weybrecht (2:46:45)
- 4th - Victoria Rodriguez (2:47.24)
- Women's Mile
- 1st - Elizabeth Whaley (4:36.56)
- 7th - Angelina Perez (4:41.24)
- Women's 5000m
- 1st - Angelina Perez (15:41.86)
- Women's High Jump
- 10th - Seren Rodgers (1.65m)
- Women's Long Jump
- 6th - Seren Rodgers (1.89m)
- Women's Pentathlon
- 3rd- Seren Rodgers (3,971 points)
- Women's Triple Jump
- 3rd - Annie Thorkell (12.05m)
From the Staff
"We are slowly getting there. We had some nice performances with two school records in the men's and women's mile, plus six total to-10 all-time performances. Several members of our team were exposed and did not do what they were supposed to do over the break. That is quite disappointing. I thought we were long past those days. We have a month to prepare for ACC indoors, and there is still a lot of work to be done." - Director of Track & Field and Cross Country John Hayes
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will be back in action next weekend as they compete in the Camel City Sprints on Friday, Feb. 6, as well as the Camel City Distance meet on Saturday, Feb. 7. Both meets will be held at the JDL Fast Track.
Follow the Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
Players Mentioned
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
Steve Forbes - Postgame Presser at Pitt
Wednesday, January 28
Steve Forbes - Postgame Presser at Duke
Saturday, January 24
Steve Forbes - Postgame Presser vs. SMU
Wednesday, January 21
Men's Basketball All-Access at Florida State
Monday, January 19