2025 BU Battle in Beantown

Top Three Performances That Stood Out At BU Battle In Beantown

Top Three Performances That Stood Out At BU Battle In Beantown

These three performances made lasting impressions at Saturday's BU Battle In Beantown in Boston.

Jan 20, 2025 by Ashley Tysiac
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The first action of 2025 from the Boston University Track and Tennis Center is in the books as a variety of Northeast collegiate programs competed at the BU Battle In Beantown on Saturday.

A few performers in particular stood out, including a familiar face on the collegiate scene and some new names hoping to contend on the national level this season.

Here are our top three performances from the Battle In Beantown that left us with the biggest impressions.

Harvard's Sophia Gorriaran Dominates Women's 600m

In a solo effort, Harvard mid-distance standout Sophia Gorriaran impressed in the women's 600m.

Beginning her second track season from the Crimson, the premier 800m runner stepped down to 600m at Battle In Beantown. Not only did she clock a big 1:28.10 effort in her first-ever collegiate race at the distance, but she demolished the competition, winning by over five seconds.

After competing on the cross country course for Harvard during the 2024 NCAA season, Gorriaran does not appear to be lacking any speed. Building that speed will be big for Gorriaran down the line as she aims to qualify for yet another NCAA final at the 800m distance.

Foster Malleck Of Boston University Runs Big 7:50 3k PR

School record and personal best? No problem for Foster Malleck.

The Boston University talent finished as the top collegian in the men's 3k at Battle In Beantown in 7:50.96, knocking off a 11-year-old program record and moving up the current D1 rankings.

Currently, Malleck sits at No. 12 on the leaderboards for the 3k, and he'll surely have plenty more opportunities on his home indoor track to improve even more upon it.

Prior to Saturday, Malleck held a PR of 7:56.78 in the 3k from last year. It's just his second time in his collegiate career dipping under the eight-minute threshold.

BU's Vera Sjoberg Drops 4:33 Mile To Climb NCAA Leaderboards

Boston University junior Vera Sjoberg appears to be molding into a star miler.

At Battle In Beantown on Saturday, Sjoberg shaved nearly five seconds off her lifetime personal best in the mile, winning the event in 4:33.92. Her previous best of 4:38.85 was set last year at the BU John Thomas Terrier Classic.

That new PR moves Sjoberg to No. 8 on the collegiate list this season -- ninth at the D1 level if including altitude conversions.

That's big for Sjoberg as she looks to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Last year, she did not make the bubble, so an early-season 4:33 personal best could be huge for her chances in 2025.

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