WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest men’s cross country team is favored to win the NCAA Southeast Regional title, while the women’s team is expected to finish sixth in the region, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Tuesday.
“We are excited about this season,” said director of track & field and cross country John Hayes. “Our schedule gives both our men’s and women’s teams great opportunities to do everything needed to qualify for the national championships. We will compete often against some of the top teams in the country to periodically check our fitness levels in preparation for November.”
The men’s team is expected to win the regional crown and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive season. Last season, the Demon Deacons took the team title at the NCAA Southeast Region Championships, marking the best regional finish for the program since 1993. With taking the top spot in the regional, the Demon Deacons punched their ticket to the NCAA Championships for the second time since 2001.
This year, the Demon Deacons are led by last season’s regional runner-up Aaron Las Heras. Wake Forest also returns All-Region honorees Zach Facioni, Luke Tewalt, Joaquin Martinez de Pinillos and Thomas Vanoppen.
The women’s team will look to build upon a solid 2022 campaign in which they finished eighth in the Southeast Region. For the women, the 2021 season was highlighted by a first-place finish at the Chanticleer Challenge and a second place finish at the Wolfpack Adidas Cross Country Challenge.
This season, the Demon Deacons are led by Elise Wright who finished 33rd at the Southeast Region Championships a year ago.
Hayes at the Helm
Director of track & field and cross country John Hayes has enjoyed a decorated tenure leading the Wake Forest men’s and women’s cross country teams. Since taking over the program in 2016, Hayes has been tabbed the Southeast Region Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year twice.
Earlier this year, Hayes was named the USATF national team assistant coach for distance at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Santiago de Cali, Colombia.
For the latest news and updates, follow Wake Forest cross country on Twitter and Instagram (@WakeTrack).
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