Wake Forest Set to Compete at Royals Challenge

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – For the first time this season, the Wake Forest men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete at the same meet, as the Demon Deacons are primed to race in the Royals Challenge, hosted by Queens University.
 
Meet Information
The women’s blue 5k will begin at 3:30 p.m., followed by the men’s blue 8k at 4:15 p.m. Shortly after, the women’s gold 5k will begin at 5:05 p.m., followed by the men’s gold 8k at 5:45 p.m.
 
Last Time Out – Cowboy Jamboree

• In a field that featured eight of the top 10 nationally-ranked team, the seventh-ranked Wake Forest men’s cross country team finished sixth in the collegiate men’s 8k at the Cowboy Jamboree.
• The Demon Deacons were paced by last year’s regional runner-up, Aaron Las Heras, who ran 23:42.2 to finish 14th. Thomas Vannoppen (23:48.4) and Joaquin Martinez De Pinillos (23:54.4) also had strong outings, as they finished 23rd and 29th, respectively.
• Two-time All-American Zach Facioni had a solid performance, placing 44th and running 24:07.4. Meanwhile, Luke Tewalt (24:17.5) and Ben Mitchell (24:18.7) finished 68th and 71st, respectively.
• As a team, Wake Forest joined BYU and Colorado as the only programs to have six or more runners finish in the top-71.

 
Last Time Out – Paul Short Run

• The Wake Forest women’s cross country team placed 11th out of 46 teams last Friday at the 48th annual Paul Short Run, hosted by Lehigh.
• The Deacs were paced by Mackenna Curtis-Collins who placed 27th, running 20:08.0. Madeline Rehm also ran a personal best, as she finished 58th while running 20:30.0.
• Hana Catsimanes (20:42.9), Elise Wright (20:45.3) and Caroline Garrett (20:46.5) all finished in the top-100, placing 85th, 90th and 91st, respectively.
• The Deacs’ top-five spread of Curtis-Collins, Rehm, Catsimanes, Wright and Garrett all finished within 40 seconds of each other.
• Wake Forest was one of only nine teams to have five runners place in the top-100. The Demon Deacons’ 11th place finish was the third-highest of all the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) teams.

 
Demon Deacon Quick Hits – Men

• The Wake Forest men’s cross country team was selected to win the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) this season.
• The Demon Deacons, seeking the program’s fifth ACC title and first since 1994, received eight first-place votes and finished with 210 total points.

  • Wake Forest…