Last weekend, the Virginia track and field teams participated in the Penn Relays - a prestigious competition with more than 116 years of history. And by the time the Cavaliers left the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field, they had made a mark in the program's own history.
In front of Saturday's record-breaking crowd of 54,310 fans, the men's 4-by-800-meter relay team - comprised of senior Alex Bowman, sophomore All-American Lance Roller, senior Steve Finley and freshman national indoor champion Robby Andrews - brought Virginia its first Championship of America relay title since 1943.
"To say I'm proud is an understatement," Virginia coach Jason Vigilante said. "The amount of commitment and patience that these guys have put into this race is just phenomenal, and I know this is a moment that each of them will remember for the rest of their lives. To me, there is no more special track and field meet than the Penn Relays."
The Penn Relays follows a different format than most track and field competitions. Each event has two sections - the college section and the elite Championship of America section. The Virginia men's 4-by-800m relay team won the college section last year, but this year, the runners took home the grand prize - a massive, wheel-shaped trophy.
Vigilante "got us focused on winning the big wheel," Finley said. "We won a few little wheels last year ... We were nervous, inexperienced at running a big event. It means a lot to us and the program that we all stuck together. I know Alex and I are grateful. It's been a long road for us."
Bowman led the relay for the Cavaliers with 1:50.20, then Roller, who won the ACC 800m title a week ago, took the second leg with 1:46.67, successfully moving Virginia into second place behind home favorite Penn State.
Finley then took the third leg. Primarily a steeplechaser, he was not projected to be in the race, but with a 1:50.75 split, he moved the Cavaliers to first place going into the final handoff. Andrews took care of the rest. His 1:47.78 anchor leg capped the team's 7:15.38 time, the third best final time in Virginia history, and helped to end the program's 67-year relay-title drought.
"Training with these guys everyday - it's the best thing that's ever happened," Andrews said. "Now, I get to run with them in the same race. They give me the confidence to give me the lead against [Oregon Olympian] Andrew Wheating and [Penn State All-American] Ryan Foster, so I'm definitely not going to let them down."
Andrews narrowly defeated both Wheating and Foster at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March by relying on his kick. He used the same strategy this time, trapping his opponents by leading them through a comfortable first lap, dropping back into third place for the next 300 meters, then surging into the lead down the final stretch.
"Toward the end, Andrew and Ryan are both in front of me," Andrews said. "I'm definitely pushing, pushing hard. I see Andrew getting ready to make his move and I'm just being as patient as I can, just waiting and hoping to catch him by surprise again. If you can just be as patient as possible - whoever kicks last usually wins."
"He's fearless," Vigilante said about Andrews. "That composure, patience and calm under fire, it's incredible. I'm so proud to be associated with him as his coach"
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