Wake Forest Wins Firetower Project Run to Open 2024 Season

Winston-Salem, N.C. –

Wake Forest University’s men’s and women’s cross country teams opened the 2024 season with a pair of victories at the Firetower Project Run on Friday night at Hagan Stone Park. The Demon Deacon men placed five runners in the top 10 to win the team title with 27 points. UNC Wilmington was second with 51 points, followed by Campbell (69), Charlotte (77) and High Point (121). Sophomore Ryan Renken led the Wake Forest men with a second-place finish in the 8-kilometer race. He crossed the line in 24:53.2, just behind UNC Wilmington’s Luke Groth, who won in 24:52.5. Junior Michael Nance was third in 24:54.5, while sophomore Jack Meholic was fifth in 25:00.4, sophomore Ben Hoffman was eighth in 25:10.7 and senior Michael Nance was ninth in 25:12.1. The Demon Deacon women also placed five runners in the top 10 to win the team title with 29 points. UNC Wilmington was second with 43 points, followed by Charlotte (62), High Point (78) and Campbell (107). Senior Jenna Hutchins led the Wake Forest women with a third-place finish in the 6-kilometer race. She crossed the line in 21:02.5, behind UNC Wilmington’s Madison McElwain, who won in 20:55.5, and Charlotte’s Elizabeth Smart, who was second in 21:01.2. Sophomore Caroline Bauer was fifth in 21:09.4, while sophomore Ellie Garrett was sixth in 21:10.1, freshman Sarah Daniels was eighth in 21:14.5 and junior Emily Maddock was ninth in 21:15.2. The Wake Forest men’s and women’s cross country teams will return to action on September 16 at the Virginia Tech XC23 Invite in Blacksburg, Virginia.