Wynne Breaks 4-Minute Mile Barrier in Boston

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Jan. 30, 2016

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BOSTON-Virginia junior Henry Wynne became the third Cavalier to break four minutes in the mile as the UVA men’s track and field team competed at the John Thomas Terrier Invitational Saturday (Jan. 30) at the Boston University Track and Tennis Center.

Wynne (Westport, Conn.) placed fourth overall in the mile in a time of 3:58.74, the second-fastest time in school history. It is the second-consecutive year that a Cavaliers has broken the 4-minute mile barrier at this meet, as Mike Marsella ran 3:59.97 at the Terrier Invitational in 2015.

“It was a good night for the boys,” UVA men’s distance coach Pete Watson said. “Henry running 3:58 was a lot of fun for everyone here and I think it got the rest of the boys excited for their races later in the night. Last year, Henry ran 4:00 and for a year he has been itching to go under. Being a sub 4-minute miler is a huge accomplishment.”

“I think I can get used to a sub 4-minute mile happening each year in Boston,” UVA director of track and field Bryan Fetzer said. “Running under four minutes in the mile is such a memorable occurrence. Henry is an example of what someone that is committed and focused can do. I am so excited for him.”

Also in the mile, freshman Matthew Novak (Glen Allen, Va.) finished 14th in 4:03.93, which ranks third on UVA’s all-time freshman list. Fellow freshman Robby Keough (Atlanta, Ga.) won his heat and placed 18th overall in 4:07.12.

The Cavaliers had three personal bests in the 5,000 meters, including junior Zach Herriott (Kansas City, Mo.), who won the event with a time of 13:57.60. That time ranks third on UVA’s all-time list. Redshirt freshman Chase Weaverling (Darnestown, Md.) placed sixth in 14:03.72, while sophomore Brent Demarest (Charleston, S.C.) finished eighth in 14:12.54. Those times rank seventh and ninth, respectively, on UVA’s all-time list.

“Zach had a rough cross country season that didn’t live up to his and our expectations, so for him to open up the indoor season with a huge PR and one of the fastest times in school history, it should give him some confidence as we drive towards ACC’s,” Fetzer said.

In the 3,000 meters, senior Adam Visokay (Ruckersville, Va.) finished sixth in 8:00.26, while fellow senior Evan Chiplock (Saginaw, Mich.) was 22nd overall in 8:11.72.

Junior Nathan Kiley (Chantilly, Va.) finished seventh in the 800 meters in 1:50.46, while sophomores Kenneth Hagen (Blacksburg, Va.) and Logan Carrington (Leesburg, Va.) set personal records, finishing in 1:51.34 (12th) and 1:51.48 (13th), respectively.

The 4x400m relay of Carrington, Kiley, Keough and freshman Devin Barnes (Henrico, Va.) placed sixth in a time of 3:14.58.

“I am really proud of how our men performed overall,” Fetzer said. “We are taking steps in the right direction. This weekend was our middle and long-distance group’s time to shine but as good as today was, we have to stay focused on what happens back here in Boston (ACC Indoors) at the end of February.”

The Cavaliers return to action next weekend (Feb. 4-6) at the Doc Hale Elite Meet in Blacksburg, Va.