Wake Forest Athletics
Friday, March 13
Fayetteville, AR
Wake Forest University
vs
NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
Specht Ready to Represent Wake Forest at NCAA Indoor Championships
3/12/2026 2:01:00 PM | Track and Field
Senior Paul Specht will begin competition at the NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday afternoon in the men’s mile semifinals.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Coming off a strong performance at the ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships, senior Paul Specht is set to represent the Wake Forest Track and Field team at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark.
The Sindelfingen, Germany, native will be competing in the men's mile semifinals on Friday, March 13, with the race currently scheduled to begin at 5:20 p.m. Should Specht advance past the semifinal round, the NCAA men's mile final will be held on Saturday, March 14, at 4:20 p.m.
Live results will be updated throughout the competition via FlashResults, while all of the action will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Need to Know
Friday, March 13
NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships (5:20 p.m.)
Randal Tyson Track Center - Fayetteville, Ark.
Saturday, March 14
NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships (4:20 p.m.)
Randal Tyson Track Center - Fayetteville, Ark.
NCAA Men's Mile Field
Last Time Out
The Wake Forest track and field program recorded a stellar performance last weekend at the ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston, securing three ACC titles and five All-ACC honors throughout the three-day meet.
Junior Seren Rodgers opened competition by taking first place in the pentathlon after recording a personal-best score of 3,989 points on Friday. The Taunton, England native recorded three top-five finishes across her five events, including a first-place result in the long jump with a personal-best distance of 6.06 meters, the fourth-longest mark in school history.
Rodgers also matched her personal-best jump of 1.65 meters in the high jump to take home fourth place in the event.
Additionally, Rodgers is now just the second Demon Deacon to win the ACC pentathlon title, joining Anna Bush, who won back in 2021.
The Demon Deacons closed the opening day of competition with the men's distance medley relay team of Wes Shipsey, Foster Shelbert, Andrew Riley and Paul Specht coming from behind to secure the Deacs' first DMR title since 2002. The team finished the race in 9:35.29, marking the fifth-fastest time in school history.
Specht later added his second ACC title of the meet on Saturday, winning the men's mile. The Sindelfingen, Germany, native led almost the entire way in the men's mile final as he recorded a time of 3:58.14.
Two other Demon Deacons secured All-ACC honors as junior Charlie Sprott and Brooke Wilson earned second-team honors in the men's and women's 5000 meters on Friday afternoon. Sprott finished his heat in 13:46.64 to help him place sixth overall in the men's race, while Wilson clocked a time of 15:55.23 to earn a sixth-place finish in the women's race.
Three other Demon Deacons scored points in their respective events on the final day of competition, highlighted by senior Casey Sullivan setting a new personal-best throw to finish eighth in the women's shot put. The Closter, N.J., native recorded a distance of 15.00 meters on her final attempt, pushing her into seventh all-time in program history.
Earlier in the afternoon, fellow senior Elizabeth Whaley logged a time of 4:36.32 to finish in seventh place in the women's mile. Meanwhile, freshman Natalia Issler clocked a time of 2:06.01 in the women's 800 meters, leading to an eighth-place result.
Junior Angelina Perez also logged points for the Demon Deacons as she placed seventh in the women's 5000 meters on the first day of competition.
Last Year at the NCAA Indoor Championships
Wake Forest recorded a solid outing during the 2025 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, highlighted by the Deacs securing three All-American honors.
Rocky Hansen opened competition with a breakout performance in the men's 5000 meters as he clocked a program-record time of 13:12.65 to finish in third place and earn First Team All-American honors.
Shortly afterward, the men's distance medley relay team of Foster Shelbert, Rynard Swanepoel, Luke Tewalt, and Paul Specht placed ninth with a time of 9:24.13 to garner Second Team All-American honors.
Tewalt would later earn First Team All-American honors as he placed eighth in the men's 3000 meters after recording a time of 7:54.42.
Putting on a Spectacle
Senior Paul Specht is currently in the midst of a breakout indoor season for the Demon Deacons, having set the Wake Forest record in the men's mile multiple times to go along with his ACC titles in the men's mile and the men's DMR.
Specht originally set the school record at the Brant Tolsma Invitational, clocking a time of 3:54.60 en route to a first-place finish.
Specht would shatter that time later on in the season at the ASICS Sound Invite. Specht posted a time of 3:52.95 to secure first place in the event over a mix of professional and collegiate runners. The time also marked the 10th-fastest time in the country, helping Specht secure his spot in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
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 127 All-ACC honors, as well as seven 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
Up Next
The Deacs begin their outdoor slate next weekend at the Bob Davidson Team Challenge at High Point. The two-day meet will be held on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21.
Follow the Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
The Sindelfingen, Germany, native will be competing in the men's mile semifinals on Friday, March 13, with the race currently scheduled to begin at 5:20 p.m. Should Specht advance past the semifinal round, the NCAA men's mile final will be held on Saturday, March 14, at 4:20 p.m.
Live results will be updated throughout the competition via FlashResults, while all of the action will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Need to Know
Friday, March 13
NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships (5:20 p.m.)
Randal Tyson Track Center - Fayetteville, Ark.
Saturday, March 14
NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships (4:20 p.m.)
Randal Tyson Track Center - Fayetteville, Ark.
NCAA Men's Mile Field
- Isaiah Givens - Colorado
- George Couttie - Virginia Tech
- Elliott Cook - Oregon
- Reuben Reina - Washington
- Pierre Attiogbe - Cornell
- Thomas Diamond - Washington
- Gary Martin - Virginia
- Trent McFarland - Michigan
- Carter Cutting - BYU
- Paul Specht - Wake Forest
- Justine Kipkoech - Colorado
- Tor Hotung-Davidsen - Northern Arizona
- Matthew Endrody - New Mexico
- Tomas Palfrey - Oregon
- Jaouad Khchina - South Carolina
- Connor McCormick - Princeton
Last Time Out
The Wake Forest track and field program recorded a stellar performance last weekend at the ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston, securing three ACC titles and five All-ACC honors throughout the three-day meet.
Junior Seren Rodgers opened competition by taking first place in the pentathlon after recording a personal-best score of 3,989 points on Friday. The Taunton, England native recorded three top-five finishes across her five events, including a first-place result in the long jump with a personal-best distance of 6.06 meters, the fourth-longest mark in school history.
Rodgers also matched her personal-best jump of 1.65 meters in the high jump to take home fourth place in the event.
Additionally, Rodgers is now just the second Demon Deacon to win the ACC pentathlon title, joining Anna Bush, who won back in 2021.
The Demon Deacons closed the opening day of competition with the men's distance medley relay team of Wes Shipsey, Foster Shelbert, Andrew Riley and Paul Specht coming from behind to secure the Deacs' first DMR title since 2002. The team finished the race in 9:35.29, marking the fifth-fastest time in school history.
Specht later added his second ACC title of the meet on Saturday, winning the men's mile. The Sindelfingen, Germany, native led almost the entire way in the men's mile final as he recorded a time of 3:58.14.
Two other Demon Deacons secured All-ACC honors as junior Charlie Sprott and Brooke Wilson earned second-team honors in the men's and women's 5000 meters on Friday afternoon. Sprott finished his heat in 13:46.64 to help him place sixth overall in the men's race, while Wilson clocked a time of 15:55.23 to earn a sixth-place finish in the women's race.
Three other Demon Deacons scored points in their respective events on the final day of competition, highlighted by senior Casey Sullivan setting a new personal-best throw to finish eighth in the women's shot put. The Closter, N.J., native recorded a distance of 15.00 meters on her final attempt, pushing her into seventh all-time in program history.
Earlier in the afternoon, fellow senior Elizabeth Whaley logged a time of 4:36.32 to finish in seventh place in the women's mile. Meanwhile, freshman Natalia Issler clocked a time of 2:06.01 in the women's 800 meters, leading to an eighth-place result.
Junior Angelina Perez also logged points for the Demon Deacons as she placed seventh in the women's 5000 meters on the first day of competition.
Last Year at the NCAA Indoor Championships
Wake Forest recorded a solid outing during the 2025 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, highlighted by the Deacs securing three All-American honors.
Rocky Hansen opened competition with a breakout performance in the men's 5000 meters as he clocked a program-record time of 13:12.65 to finish in third place and earn First Team All-American honors.
Shortly afterward, the men's distance medley relay team of Foster Shelbert, Rynard Swanepoel, Luke Tewalt, and Paul Specht placed ninth with a time of 9:24.13 to garner Second Team All-American honors.
Tewalt would later earn First Team All-American honors as he placed eighth in the men's 3000 meters after recording a time of 7:54.42.
Putting on a Spectacle
Senior Paul Specht is currently in the midst of a breakout indoor season for the Demon Deacons, having set the Wake Forest record in the men's mile multiple times to go along with his ACC titles in the men's mile and the men's DMR.
Specht originally set the school record at the Brant Tolsma Invitational, clocking a time of 3:54.60 en route to a first-place finish.
Specht would shatter that time later on in the season at the ASICS Sound Invite. Specht posted a time of 3:52.95 to secure first place in the event over a mix of professional and collegiate runners. The time also marked the 10th-fastest time in the country, helping Specht secure his spot in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
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 127 All-ACC honors, as well as seven 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)
- Men's DMR
- 5th - Shipsey, Shelbert, Riley and Specht (9:35.29)
- 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 (2:05.38)
- 6th - Amy Weybrecht (2:08.35)
- 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 DMR
- 1st - Weybrecht, Rodgers, Issler and Whaley (11:06.15)
- Women's High Jump
- 10th - Seren Rodgers (1.65m)
- Women's Long Jump
- 4th - Seren Rodgers (6.06m)
- 7th - Savannah Simmons (5.88m)
- 9th - Annie Thorkell (5.85m)
- Women's Pentathlon
- 3rd - Seren Rodgers (3,989 points)
- Women's Shot Put
- 7th - Casey Sullivan (15.00m)
- Women's Triple Jump
- 3rd - Annie Thorkell (12.05m)
Up Next
The Deacs begin their outdoor slate next weekend at the Bob Davidson Team Challenge at High Point. The two-day meet will be held on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21.
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
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
Men's Basketball Postgame Presser vs. Clemson, 2026 ACC Tournament
Thursday, March 12
Wake Forest Women's Basketball: Marcy Carter Women's History Month Feature
Wednesday, March 11
Sebastian Akins Tough
Wednesday, March 11
Wake Forest Advances in 2026 ACC Tournament
Wednesday, March 11