Specht Advances to NCAA Men’s Mile Finals

Friday, March 13

Fayetteville, AR

Wake Forest University

NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships

3/13/2026 8:36:00 PM | Track and Field

Senior Paul Specht posted a time of 3:56.59 during his semifinal heat to earn one of the two non-automatic qualification spots for Saturday’s final.

By: KJ Smith

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Serving as the representative of the Wake Forest track and field team, senior Paul Specht opened competition at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships by securing a spot in the men's mile final following a solid semifinal performance Friday afternoon at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

Specht recorded a fifth-place finish in his semifinal heat, clocking a time of 3:56.59. With the result, the Sindelfingen, Germany, native earned one of two non-automatic qualifying spots for the final, which is scheduled for Saturday at 5:20 p.m and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

The men's mile final appearance adds onto an already impressive season for Specht, which features an ACC title in both the mile and the men's distance medley relay. Specht also claimed the program record in the men's mile earlier this season as he logged a time of 3:52.95 at the ASICS Sound Invite.

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)
- 8th - 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)

From the Staff
"Paul [Specht] has put together one of the greatest indoor seasons in Wake Forest history. He ran a tactically proficient race today and qualified for the finals in one of the most difficult meets in the world. I'm excited to see what Paul will do tomorrow. He has worked so hard and consistently gotten better each year." - Director of Track & Field and Cross Country John Hayes

Up Next
Specht will be back in action tomorrow as he competes in the men's mile finals. The final is scheduled for 5:20 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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