Wake Forest Athletics
Friday, October 9
Madison, Wis.
11:30 a.m.
Wake Forest University
at
Nuttycombe Invitational (Men & Women)
Hansen, Wilson, Cervi-Skinner Pace Wake Forest at Nuttycombe Invitational
10/9/2026 2:51:00 PM | Cross Country
The Demon Deacons wrapped the regular season in one of the country’s top yearly meets.
MADISON, Wis. – Wake Forest cross country closed out its regular-season slate at the 2026 Nuttycombe Invitational on Friday, with the Demon Deacons' men's and women's teams competing in multiple races.
As a group, Wake Forest notched a sixth-place result on the men's side of the 8k "A" race, totaling 222 points among a 35-team field. Making his season debut, senior Rocky Hansen crossed for fourth place on a 22:31.4 mark. His classmate, Charlie Sprott, finished 39th at 23:21.6 while sophomore Aurelien Radja was nearby at 48th (23:29.1) in his first-ever cross country race as a Demon Deacon. Upperclassmen Hunter Jones and Bryce Gilmore rounded out the Deacs' top-five runners.
The women's team opened the morning in its 6k "A" race, finishing 20th with 493 points. Senior Brooke Wilson led the way again in her second outing of the season, clocking 20:04.6 for a 36th-place finish. Freshman Emry Schwalm went for a new 6k season-best at 20:32.1, good for 70th place. Senior Grace Wassell also finished inside the top 100 with a personal-best in the 6k herself (20:52.7).
A 6k "B" race on the women's side unfolded in the early afternoon, with a trio of Wake Forest freshmen participating. Annika Swan and Harriet Blaha each turned in season-bests in the 6k at 21:24.4 and 21:31.5, respectively. Elsewhere, Emily Cohen finished 35th (21:40.2)
The men wrapped the day with an excellent performance in the 8k "B" race, finishing first out of 12 teams with 53 points – which was 37 ahead of BYU in second place. Redshirt freshman Max Cervi-Skinner was a standout in his first collegiate 8k, clocking 23:54.1 that was good for third place. Junior Wes Shipsey and freshman Landon Pretre were very even at eighth and ninth place, respectively. Friday featured an 8k career-best for Shipsey (24:03.1). Redshirt sophomore Grant Morgenfeld joined the top 15 as well, clocking 24:08.6 for 13th place.
Men's "A" Race – Top Five Spread
Men's "A" Race – Team Results
Women's "A" Race – Top Five Spread
Women's "A" Race – Team Results
From the Staff
"We had a mixed bag today [for the women's first race]. Pre-race instruction was for most of the group to be a little conservative in the first 2-3k of the race and really make sure that we were moving up over the last half. We failed to execute that and the result was being on the wrong side of the bubble of the teams in the 15-20 range. On the other hand, if you had told me their finishing times before the race started, I would have been really pleased. Ultimately, cross country is only about place and we've just got to do a better job executing next time. I've got full confidence that we are going to be better come ACCs." – Head Women's Cross Country Coach Brandon Hazouri
Next Up
Postseason action is next for Wake Forest, as the 2026 ACC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships will first take place in Blacksburg, Va. on Oct. 30.
Virginia Tech will serve as the host school, with competition unfolding at the Buford Meredith Cross Country Course.
As a group, Wake Forest notched a sixth-place result on the men's side of the 8k "A" race, totaling 222 points among a 35-team field. Making his season debut, senior Rocky Hansen crossed for fourth place on a 22:31.4 mark. His classmate, Charlie Sprott, finished 39th at 23:21.6 while sophomore Aurelien Radja was nearby at 48th (23:29.1) in his first-ever cross country race as a Demon Deacon. Upperclassmen Hunter Jones and Bryce Gilmore rounded out the Deacs' top-five runners.
The women's team opened the morning in its 6k "A" race, finishing 20th with 493 points. Senior Brooke Wilson led the way again in her second outing of the season, clocking 20:04.6 for a 36th-place finish. Freshman Emry Schwalm went for a new 6k season-best at 20:32.1, good for 70th place. Senior Grace Wassell also finished inside the top 100 with a personal-best in the 6k herself (20:52.7).
A 6k "B" race on the women's side unfolded in the early afternoon, with a trio of Wake Forest freshmen participating. Annika Swan and Harriet Blaha each turned in season-bests in the 6k at 21:24.4 and 21:31.5, respectively. Elsewhere, Emily Cohen finished 35th (21:40.2)
The men wrapped the day with an excellent performance in the 8k "B" race, finishing first out of 12 teams with 53 points – which was 37 ahead of BYU in second place. Redshirt freshman Max Cervi-Skinner was a standout in his first collegiate 8k, clocking 23:54.1 that was good for third place. Junior Wes Shipsey and freshman Landon Pretre were very even at eighth and ninth place, respectively. Friday featured an 8k career-best for Shipsey (24:03.1). Redshirt sophomore Grant Morgenfeld joined the top 15 as well, clocking 24:08.6 for 13th place.
Men's "A" Race – Top Five Spread
| Place (Points) | Name | Time |
| 4. (4) | Rocky Hansen | 22:31.4 |
| 39. (39) | Charlie Sprott | 23.21.6 |
| 48. (48) | Aurelien Radja | 23:29.1 |
| 62. (62) | Hunter Jones | 23:35.9 |
| 69. (69) | Bryce Gilmore | 23:39.7 |
Men's "A" Race – Team Results
| Place | Team | Points |
| 1. | New Mexico | 59 |
| 2. | Colorado | 93 |
| 3. | BYU | 146 |
| 4. | Arkansas | 208 |
| 5. | Florida | 221 |
| 6. | Wake Forest | 222 |
| 7. | Georgetown | 315 |
| 8. | Stanford | 328 |
| 9. | Wisconsin | 357 |
| 10. | Harvard | 365 |
Women's "A" Race – Top Five Spread
| Place (Points) | Name | Time |
| 36. (36) | Brooke Wilson | 20:04.6 |
| 70. (70) | Emry Schwalm | 20:32.1 |
| 99. (99) | Grace Wassell | 20:52.7 |
| 137. (137) | Julia Score | 21:07.2 |
| 151. (151) | Maisie Wilmer | 21:11.7 |
Women's "A" Race – Team Results
| Place | Team | Points |
| 16. | Washington | 430 |
| 17. | Providence | 442 |
| 18. | Oklahoma | 466 |
| 19. | Tennessee | 491 |
| 20. | Wake Forest | 493 |
From the Staff
"We had a mixed bag today [for the women's first race]. Pre-race instruction was for most of the group to be a little conservative in the first 2-3k of the race and really make sure that we were moving up over the last half. We failed to execute that and the result was being on the wrong side of the bubble of the teams in the 15-20 range. On the other hand, if you had told me their finishing times before the race started, I would have been really pleased. Ultimately, cross country is only about place and we've just got to do a better job executing next time. I've got full confidence that we are going to be better come ACCs." – Head Women's Cross Country Coach Brandon Hazouri
Next Up
Postseason action is next for Wake Forest, as the 2026 ACC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships will first take place in Blacksburg, Va. on Oct. 30.
Virginia Tech will serve as the host school, with competition unfolding at the Buford Meredith Cross Country Course.
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
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