Cavalier Corner

April 2016

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According to Track & Field News, Virginia third- year cross country and middle distance runner Henry Wynne was the 450th American (and third Cavalier) to break the four-minute mile barrier (3:58.74). Overall, 470 Americans have reached one of running's most challenging milestones. That's fewer people than have reached the sum- mit of Mt. Everest. Not bad for a former lacrosse player who took up running because his mom, Julie Van Norden, made him do it. "My mom had me do cross country when I was a freshman in high school," Wynne recalled. "I actu- ally was a big lacrosse player, so I had to do it to get in shape for the season. "She likes to say she didn't force me, but I came back from practice that first day and I was like, 'Please don't make me do this.' She said, 'No, you have to go back.' So, I just stuck with it." Wynne was named the 2016 ACC Men's Indoor Track Performer of the Year, becoming the first Virginia student-athlete to earn a year-end ACC indoor award since Ben Kurgat was named ACC Performer of the Year 25 years ago. The third-year captured the national title in the mile (4:06.63) in March, while leading the Cavaliers to a program-best eighth-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He also won the mile and anchored the conference champion distance medley relay at the ACC Championships in February, helping UVA to a third-place team fin- ish. In addition, he broke the school record in the 3,000 meters by running it 7:53.89 in February. Wynne said he and the team had a very good season but the conference accolade was some- what unexpected. "I knew I had a good season, and I was stronger," Wynne noted. "But for it to pay off and for the big win, and to get that honor of being named the ACC indoor track runner of the year, it's a recogni- tion of how much work I actually put in and how much work the whole team put in. "Obviously, I didn't get here by myself. I had my team and the whole fitness squad to work with." — Greg Waters ◆ Photo by Cheryl Treworgy/courtesy UVA

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