Andrews Garners Top Honors from ACC

Story Links

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Virginia freshman Robby Andrews has been named the 2010 ACC Men’s Outdoor Track Performer and Freshman of the Year, as voted on by the league’s 12 head coaches and announced today by the conference office.

Andrews, the ACC Men’s Indoor Freshman of the Year, becomes the conference’s fourth student-athlete to sweep the indoor and outdoor track and field rookie honors, and the first since Florida State’s Walter Dix did so in 2005. He is the fourth Cavalier to be tabbed as the performer of the year – UVa’s first since Rob Cook in 1994 – and he is the first performer in conference history to garner both performer and freshman of the year honors during the same season.

Coming off an NCAA Indoor Championship in the 800m, Andrews opened his outdoor season by bettering Virginia’s annual Lou Onesty meet record in the mile. In an attempt to break the four-minute barrier, Andrews ran a personal-best 4:01.55 at Lannigan Field to top former Cavalier All-American Andrew Jesien’s record of 4:02.18, set in 2009.

He then finished runner-up to teammate Lance Roller in the 800m at the ACC Championships and helped the Cavaliers’ relay team of Kevin Anding, Roller and Adams Abdulrazaaq to a third-place finish at the conference meet.

At the Penn Relays, Andrews used his kick to pass Oregon Olympian Andrew Wheating down the homestretch, as he anchored the Cavaliers’ 4x800m relay team of Alex Bowman, Roller and Steve Finley to Virginia’s first Championship of America relay title since 1943. He was named the ACC Performer of the Week for his accomplishments.

His success in the 800m continued as he shattered the facility record at Liberty’s Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex at the Twilight Qualifier and he won the event at the NC A&T Invitational. At Liberty, he finished with a time of 1:47.73 to lead four competitors across the line ahead of the Flames’ Chuck Lyngaas’ previous record of 1:49.60 from 1997.

At the NCAA East Preliminary meet, Andrews won both of his heats to advance to his first NCAA Outdoor Championship. In Eugene, he ran a personal-best 1:45.54 to advance to the finals – where he finished as the national runner-up to Wheating with a time of 1:46.83.

Andrews’ time from the semifinals marks the best time in the NCAA this year and the fastest preliminary time ever run at an NCAA Championship. He is currently the No. 1 ranked junior (19-and-under) in the world and is third on the all-time USA junior lists.

Among all USA competitors, Andrews ranks second this season to Olympian Nick Symmonds, while his time is also ranked No. 23 in the world.

In addition, Andrews’ best 1500m time of 3:41.09 from the NC A&T Invite is ranked as the top time in the USA for a junior. He’s ranked No. 8 in the world juniors and is seventh in the NCAA – the top true freshman.

In Virginia’s record books, Andrews’ time trails only two-time NCAA Champion Paul Ereng in the 800m, as Ereng ran 1:43.16 in 1989. In the 1500m, Andrews ranks third behind former All-American John Hinton’s time of 3:40.24 in 1983 and former All-American Vince Draddy’s time of 3:40.44 in 1981. He also owns the program’s freshman record in the event.

Andrews’ 2010 Outdoor Season Honors
ACC Track Performer of the Year
ACC Freshman of the Year
NCAA runner-up in 800m
All-American in 800m
All-ACC in 800m and 4x400m relay
ACC runner-up in 800m
Third at ACCs in 4x400m relay
Penn Relays Champion in 4x800m relay
Lou Onesty meet record holder in mile (4:01.55)
Liberty’s Matthes-Hopkins Track record holder in 800m (1:47.73)
Won 800m at NC A&T
ACC Performer of the Week (4/27)