INFO | 'Twas the Meet before Christmas complete results
 
Winston-Salem, N.C.----The Wingate University indoor track and field teams concluded their December schedule with the aptly-named 'Twas the Meet before Christmas at the JDL Fast Track Friday. The Bulldogs collected eight gold medals during the event.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate director of cross country and track and field Matt van Lierop
 
"The Bulldogs got by with a little help from their friends at the JDL Fast Track this weekend. With teammates pacing, the Wingate harriers have once again put the nation on notice. These 'Dogs don't need conversions for altitude, short track nor flat track to rise to the top. It's all about culture, tradition and a team bond…developed by this program over the years.
 
"Hard work, dedication and selflessness is the true definition of #OneDog…and after the dust settled at JDL, there were countless personal bests, new school records and 14 top-10 national performances in the men's 800 meters and mile run and both genders for the 3000 meters. These Friday performances included new NCAA leaders in David Holman (mile) and Lars Laros (3000 meters). David and Lars join their NCAA-leading teammates Klaus Scholz (800 meters) and Luca Poppe (5000 meters) from our Boston University meet earlier this month."
 
'Twas the Meet before Christmas
Wingate men's T&F top times and marks
 
- Klaus Scholz finished first in the 400 meters (49.37)
- Levente Palvolgyi claimed the gold in the 800 meters (1:50.23)
- Wingate had the top three finishers in the mile run
- David Holman led the way with his NCAA top time of 3:57.99
- The 'Dogs claimed the top seven places in the 3000 meters
- Lars Laros was the "top dog" with his NCAA-leading time of 7:50.24
- Andrew Holt finished second in the 400 (49.82) and third in the 200 (22.87)
- Avery Bennett was third in the 400 meters (49.96)
 
'Twas the Meet before Christmas
Wingate women's T&F top times and marks
 
- Kiara Bester won the 3000 meters with her triumphant time of 9:22.57
- Bester led a 1-2-3-4 finish for the Navy Blue and Vegas Gold-clad Bulldogs
- Hoyane Esper won two events in the Christmas-themed meet
- Esper's victories: the 400 meters (1:03.91) and the 800 meters (2:16.10)
- Taylor Wilson won the 200 meters (25.64)
- Natalie Bogdanova Kirilova took second placed in the 800 meters (2:21.10)
- Ona Alonso claimed the silver medal in the mile run (4:56.75)
- Baia Touza collected the bronze medal in the mile run (5:07.76)
 
Up Next for the Wingate indoor track and field teams
 
- Bulldog student-athletes concluded their fall semester final exams Friday
- Spring semester classes begin Thursday, January 8, 2026
- Wingate will start the '26 portion of its 2025-26 schedule on Saturday, January 17
- The Bulldogs will compete in the JDL Mondo College meet at the JDL Fast Track
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
OneDog, #OneDog, and One Day One Dog are registered trademarks of Wingate University.