Wake Forest Men Record Top-15 Finish in Final USTFCCCA Division I Men’s Program of the Year Rankings

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Following the conclusion of a successful 2024-25 academic year, the Wake Forest men’s track and field and cross country program recorded a top-15 finish in the final John McDonnell Program of the Year standings, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday afternoon.

The John McDonnell Program of the Year Award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year based upon the institution’s finish across the NCAA Men’s Cross Country, Men’s Indoor Track and Field, and Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for each of the NCAA Championships, with scoring being based upon each team’s respective finish at each Championship (i.e. 1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points). The lowest score for all three championships combined determines the award winner.

This season, the men’s cross country and track and field programs combined for a 15th-place finish in the final rankings with 97.5 points. The Deacs are also one of four men’s programs representing the ACC inside the top-15, joining North Carolina, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.

The Demon Deacons found success across the academic season, including a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championships. Sophomore Charlie Sprott led the way for Wake Forest, earning All-American honors after recording a personal-best time of 29:21.6 to finish in 32nd.

During the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, senior Luke Tewalt and sophomore Rocky Hansen were both named First Team All-Americans, with Hansen setting a new program record in the men’s indoor 5000m en route to a third-place finish at 13:12.65. Meanwhile, Tewalt placed eighth in the men’s indoor 3000m final with a time of 7:54.42.

In addition, the distance medley relay team of Tewalt, senior Rynard Swanepoel, junior Paul Specht, and freshman Foster Shelbert earned Second Team All-American distinctions.

The Deacs would add four more All-Americans during the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, with Hansen claiming First Team All-American status following a fifth-place finish in the men’s 5000m final. Hansen would be joined by both Tewalt and freshman JoJo Jourdon in the men’s 5000m final, as Tewalt would add a Second Team All-American honor to his name after crossing the line in 14th, while Jourdon concluded his stellar debut season with an 18th-place finish.

Finally, Swanepoel closed out his Wake Forest career by earning Second Team All-American honors for the second-consecutive season.

Final NCAA Division I Men’s Program of the Year Standings

Program	Total Points
Arkansas	10
Oklahoma State	25
BYU	27
North Carolina	32
Wisconsin	40.5
Oregon	41
New Mexico	42
Ole Miss	44.5
Washington	67
Villanova	82.5
Virginia	83
Iowa State	86
Virginia Tech	94
Alabama	95.5
Wake Forest	97.5

From the Staff
“This is a prestigious list that is tough to make. Our ability to place high at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, and then score at both the NCAA Indoor Track and Field and NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships is rare. I am confident that we will be able to place inside the top five or seven next year. This shows our commitment to our sports at the highest level.” – Director of Track and Field and Cross Country John Hayes

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