2025 BU John Thomas Terrier Classic

The Data Behind The BU Mile, Looking Ahead At The BU Terrier Classic

The Data Behind The BU Mile, Looking Ahead At The BU Terrier Classic

A statistical look at the data behind the Boston University Mile ahead of the 2025 BU Terrier Classic.

Jan 30, 2025 by John Davern
null

Data Curated By Jaden Weigand | Written By John Davern

A whopping 948 active collegiate runners ended the 2023-24 indoor track and field season with mile personal bests at Boston University's Track and Tennis Center.

Known for being one of the fastest tracks in the world, the facility has certainly lived up to its moniker for NCAA athletes.

Out of those 948 athletes, 543 ran personal bests during 2024, with another 270 posting their times during the 2023 season.

A slew of NCAA athletes are gearing up for this year's series of BU meets. Notably, the BU John Thomas Terrier Classic is scheduled for this weekend (January 31 - February 1), but the Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invite will follow on February 8. The David Hemery Valentine Invitational is slated for February 14 and the Terrier DMR Challenge / Last Chance Meet is scheduled for February 21.

In terms of "active" personal bests, the 2024 David Hemery Valentine Invitational has produced the most mile personal bests. 229 NCAA athletes scored a personal best from that meet. Another 163 collected their marks at the 2024 BU John Thomas Terrier Classic. Those marks still stand as their indoor bests.

So What Do We Have In Store?

"Could we see a 3:49 or faster mile this weekend at Boston?

For some athletes, that may very likely be the goal. Looking to pace at 3:50 or under in heat one, the men's mile at the BU Terrier Classic could prove to be a barnburner.

Defending meet champion Colin Sahlman of NAU returns this year hoping to best his quick 3:53.17 winning mark from 2024. Since then, Sahlman has continued to find success on the track, finishing sixth in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships and fourth in the 1,500m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

He has already opened up his 2025 indoor season with some impressive PRs at shorter distances -- 48.63 for 400m and 1:17.24 in the 600m.

But he won't be the only notable collegian leading the field. North Carolina's Ethan Strand, who set the men's indoor 3k collegiate record at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville opener in December, will also be one to watch. He certainly has speed, evident by his 3:35.60 outdoor 1,500m personal best and 3:54.62 indoor mile PR..." 

To continue reading this passage by Ashley Tysiac, check out our 3 Events To Watch At The BU Terrier Classic.

Which NCAA Athlete Has The Fastest Personal Best At BU?

That honor belongs to Colin Sahlman

At the 2024 BU John Thomas Terrier Classic, Sahlman ran an absurd 3:53.17 to take the win. He went on to finish sixth in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships and fourth in the 1,500m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Colleges With The Most Active Personal Bests At Boston University (Top 10 - Mile)

  1. UMass Lowell - 44
  2. Boston University - 27
  3. Northeastern - 25
  4. MIT - 22
  5. Syracuse - 21
  6. Harvard - 20
  7. UMass Amherst - 16
  8. Siena - 15
  9. Yale - 15
  10. Boston College, Georgetown, Marist and Rider - 14

FloTrack Archived Footage

Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

Join The Track & Field Conversation On Social