Wake Forest Set for Regular Season Finale at JDL Last Chance Invitational

Saturday, February 21

Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University

JDL Last Chance Invitational

Wake Forest Set for Regular Season Finale at JDL Last Chance Invitational

2/20/2026 11:00:00 AM | Track and Field

The meet will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the JDL Fast Track, with the first events slated for 9:30 a.m.

By: KJ Smith

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest Track and Field will be back in action for one final time during the regular season portion of their indoor schedule as they are set to compete at the JDL Last Chance Invitational.

The meet will be held all day on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the JDL Fast Track, with the first events slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. Live results will be updated throughout the day here.

Need to Know
Saturday, Feb. 21
JDL Last Chance Invitational (9:30 a.m.)
JDL Fast Track - Winston-Salem, N.C.

Competing for the Deacs
Women

Men

Last Time Out
The Demon Deacons are coming off a stellar weekend at the ASICS Sound Invite that featured two new school records and nine athletes setting ACC marks.

Senior Paul Specht continued his excellent indoor season as he broke both the school and JDL Fast Track record in the men's mile at the Sound Invite. After previously setting the program record at the Brant Tolsma Invitational, the Sindelfingen, Germany native secured a first place finish against a mix of collegiate and professional runners with a time of 3:52.95 on Saturday.

Earlier in the meet, junior Wes Shipsey became one of just seven Demon Deacons in school history to record a sub-four minute mile. The Portland, Ore., native clocked a time of 3:59.68 in the men's seeded mile race, moving him into sixth all-time in Wake Forest history for the event.

Fellow juniors Hunter Jones and Charlie Sprott both finished on the podium in the men's 5000m, with Jones placing second with a time of 13:50.46, while Sprott crossed the line in third place at 13:58.54.

In his first collegiate race for the Deacs, freshman Aurelien Radja notched a third place performance in the men's 3000m. The Frenchman recorded a time of 7:45.86 to jump into second all-time in school history.

On the women's side, senior Elizabeth Whaley broke her own school record to place seventh in women's mile. The Cincinnati native dropped over a second off of her previous personal-best time, finishing Saturday's race in 4:35.35.

Elsewhere, junior Angelina Perez took home third place in the women's 3000m as she posted a time of 9:01.56. The result moved the Ringwood, N.J., native into second in program history, while fellow junior Brooke Wilson propelled herself into third all-time in the women's 3000m after crossing the finish line in 9:05.73 to claim a fifth place result.

Following an impressive debut last month, freshman Natalia Issler continued her stellar rookie season as she placed second in the women's 800m, clocking 2:05.96.

Meanwhile, junior Seren Rodgers closed out competition at the Darius Dixon Invitational by moving into sixth all-time in the women's 200m with a personal-best time of 25.20 seconds.

The John Hayes Era
Currently in his 10th season 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 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 seven All-Americans in cross country, including junior Rocky Hansen, who finished as national runner-up at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country 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 his first 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.

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)
- 10th - Wes Shipsey (1:50.61)
Men's Mile
- 1st - Paul Specht (3:52.95)
- 5th - Bryce Gilmore (3:59.00)
- 6th - Wes Shipsey (3:59.68)
Men's 3000m
- 2nd - Aurelien Radja (7:45.86)
- 5th - 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 (8.63)
Women's 200m
- 6th - Seren Rodgers (25.20)
Women's 800m
- 4th - Natalia Issler (2:05.42)
- 6th - Amy Weybrecht (2:09.19)
Women's 1000m
- 2nd - Amy Weybrecht (2:46.45)
- 4th - Victoria Rodriguez (2:47.24)
Women's Mile
- 1st - Elizabeth Whaley (4:35.35)
- 7th - Angelina Perez (4:41.24)
Women's 3000m
- 2nd - Angelina Perez (9:01.56)
- 3rd - Brooke Wilson (9:05.73)
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 (5.89m)
- 8th - Annie Thorkell (5.85m)
Women's Pentathlon
- 3rd- Seren Rodgers (3,971 points)
Women's Triple Jump
- 3rd - Annie Thorkell (12.05m)

Up Next
The Demon Deacons begin postseason action as they travel to Boston for the ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships.

The meet will be held from Thursday, Feb. 26 to Sunday, Feb. 28 at The Track at New Balance.

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