Lance Roller and Steve Finley defeated Oregon and Penn State teams chock full of All-Americans. After Foster and Wheating passed Andrews midway through the anchor leg, Andrews again made up several strides in the final 80 meters and pulled away.

"I just stayed as composed as I could and stayed as patient as I could," Andrews said. "I just caught 'em by surprise, caught 'em with some good legs in the last 100 or so meters. It was just unbelievable. It's a great feeling."

Andrews' Penn Relays performance was all the sweeter because of his family history. He is a third-generation competitor whose father, Bob, was a former half-miler at Penn and who competed in the masters division the day before his son's historic race.

"I would trade all my otherthey draw from him. But when you get to know him, he's a really neat figure."

Andrews rapidly has become a centerpiece of Vigilante's efforts to build the Cavs' track program into a regional and national contender. The New Jersey native is in his second year in Charlottesville after a stellar nine-year stint as cross country and assistant track coach at Texas, where he coached 17 Big 12 Conference champs and dozens of All-Americans.

Andrews' national title and the Penn Relays performance are beginning to open doors in terms of recruiting and competition.