Track & Field: Eliason breaks four-minute mark at Virginia High Performance

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field teams shut the curtain on the 2023 regular season on Sunday, hosting the Virginia High Performance at Lannigan Field where the hometown hero, Jack Eliason, stole the show running his first-ever sub-four minute mile.

A native of Crozet, Jack Eliason took to the track in hopes of breaking the four-minute barrier for the first time in his career after coming close on numerous occasions including a 4:02.40 performance at the 2023 ACC Indoor Championships in February.

This time, Eliason wouldn’t be denied and after a fast start, he was on track to do it. Making his move with around 500 meters to go, Eliason led the pack heading into the bell lap and with his trademarked grit, he grinded out the final lap to cross the finish just under the mark posting a time of 3:59.64.

Eliason becomes the seventh active member of the Cavalier program to run under four minutes in the mile joining Conor Murphy, Gary Martin, James Donahue, Nate Mountain Wes Porter, and Yasin Sado. Eliason’s performance comes one year after Porter and Sado accomplished the feat for the first time in their careers at the same meet. The personal-best for Eliason puts a cap on an impressive finish to the 2023 season as he posted consecutive personal bests over the course of three meets in the 1500 meters (3:42.07), the 5000 meters (13:47.07) and now the mile.

“I am just so fortunate and honored to be a Virginia Cavalier and represent such a great group of men and women on this team” said Eliason following the performance.

In her final competition at Lannigan Field, Ashley Anumba picked up her fourth win in the discus for the 2023 season. Anumba’s mark of 57.09 meters (187’3”) was good enough for the win while Janae Profit and Kaiya Saunders placed second and third respectively.

The Virginia sprinters had a strong day as Evans White IV claimed a victory in the 400-meters with a personal-best time of 48.04 seconds. White was followed by teammate Tom Correl in second and Luke Schroeder in in fourth. In the men’s 100-meter dash, Demick Starling led all collegiate runners with his time of 10.58 seconds which was just .01 second off his personal best that ranks eighth all-time at Virginia. Jay Pendarvis finished fourth while Jerlan Fish clocked a personal best.

In the women’s sprints, Aryana Boostani placed third in the 100-meter dash clocking a personal-best time of 12.34 seconds. Sophia Akpan won the 400-meter hurdles with her time of 1:02.53.

Trina Barcarola won the women’s pole vault clearing a personal-best mark of 4.09 meters (13’5) moving her into fourth on the Virginia all-time list. Justin Rogers took home a victory on the men’s side posting 4.88 meters (16’0”).

Tyler Zawatski (64.16m/210’6”) and Thomas Dickinson (61.22m/200’10”) each marked personal-bests in the men’s javelin as the pair went 1-2 in the event. On the women’s side, Brooke Lumpkin (40.30m/132’3”) and Kaiya Saunders (38.70m/127’0) recorded personal-bests of their own placing first and second as well.

Tara Zeni ended her final appearance at Lannigan Field with a win in the long jump as the senior cleared 5.67 meters (18’7.25”).

FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK & FIELD VIN LANANNA

“Our men and women have competed exceptionally all year long and this weekend was a great way to end the regular season. Jack Eliason was excellent in the mile, and it was a special moment to see him join six of his teammates who have gone under four minutes. I was also thrilled to be able to honor our graduating seniors who have contributed so much to the Virginia track and field program over the course of their careers. Overall, there were excellent performances across the board this weekend and this gives us great momentum heading into the championship portion of our season.”

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers turn their attention to the ACC Track & Field Championships in Raleigh, North Carolina on May 11-13.