Wake Forest to Open Outdoor Season at Bob Davidson Team Challenge

Friday, March 20

High Point, NC

Wake Forest University

Bob Davidson Team Challenge

Wake Forest to Open Outdoor Season at Bob Davidson Team Challenge

3/19/2026 2:10:00 PM | Track and Field

The Demon Deacons are one of 14 teams competing at the two-day meet that will run on Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21.

By: KJ Smith

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Following an incredible indoor campaign, the Wake Forest track and field team will open their outdoor season this weekend at the Bob Davidson Team Challenge at Vert Stadium.

The Demon Deacons are one of 14 teams set to compete during the two-day meet, which will be held on Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21.

Live results will be updated throughout both days of competition via FlashResults. The meet will also be streamed live on Saturday on ESPN+.

Need to Know
Friday, March 20
Bob Davidson Team Challenge (10:30 a.m.)
Vert Stadium - High Point, N.C.

Saturday, March 21
Bob Davidson Team Challenge (11:00 a.m.)
Vert Stadium - High Point, N.C.

The Field
Women

Akron
App State
Duke
Elon
Gardner-Webb
George Mason
High Point
James Madison
Lafayette
Lenoir-Rhyne
North Carolina A&T
North Carolina
UNCG
Wake Forest

Men

Akron
App State
Brown
Duke
Gardner-Webb
George Mason
High Point
Lafayette
Lenoir-Rhyne
North Carolina A&T
North Carolina
UNCG
Wake Forest

Competing for the Deacs
Women

Men

Last Time Out
Senior Paul Specht closed out his indoor track and field season by representing Wake Forest at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in the men's mile.

After securing a spot in the final with a solid semifinal performance, Specht earned Second Team All-American honors with a tenth-place finish after clocking a time of 4:01.32.

With the result, the Sindelfingen, Germany, native earned his second All-American honor of his career in indoor track and field, having previously been a part of the men's distance medley relay team that claimed Second Team All-American honors during the 2025 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Additionally, Specht is now one of nine individual All-Americans in program history on the men's side, as well as the first All-American in the men's mile since Thomas Vanoppen did so in 2023.

2025 Outdoor Track and Field Season Highlights

During the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which was hosted at Kentner Stadium, the Deacs earned nine All-ACC honors.
- All-ACC Honorees
  - Men's Second Team
    - Rynard Swanepoel (800m)
    - Paul Specht (1500m)
    - Luke Tewalt (1500m and 5000m)
    - Hunter Jones (3000m Steeplechase)
    - Rocky Hansen (5000m)
  - Women's Second Team
    - Rosalind Gergely (Javelin)
    - Rylan Engels (1500m)
    - Seren Rodgers (Heptathlon)
There were several changes to the record book this season, including having five program records being broken.
- Individually, senior Emma Douglass broke the program record in the women's 800m multiple times across three consecutive meets, including during the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships where she ran a 2:03.25 during her semifinal heat.
  - The Wellington, New Zealand, native also broke the school record in the women's 1500m earlier in the season at the Duke Twilight on May 4.

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.

Next Up
Wake Forest returns to action next weekend as they participate in the Raleigh Relays from Thursday, March 26, to Saturday, March 28, at the Dail Soccer Field/Track Complex.

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