The last time Boston University track and field athletes were named First Team All-American in Indoor Track and Field was in 2014 when Rich Peters and Monica Adler were given the nod in the mile.
More than a decade later, two Terriers did it again, and then some.
Junior Vera Sjöberg and graduate student Foster Malleck have dominated all year, and this weekend, they will both compete against the best runners in the world as they race the 1500 meter at the World Indoor Athletic Championships in Nanjing, China.
“Regardless of what program you’re at, if you can send two people to represent your school at the World Championship level, there’s really no higher exposure and honor than that,” said Jon Molz, BU track & field distance coach.
Both athletes ran the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships last weekend, scoring points in the final and earning First Team All-American honors. Sjöberg finished eighth in a nail-biting race, beating the runner behind her by 0.1 seconds.
“The race was very tactical, I tried to just stay calm, but the last lap was just giving everything I had trying to pass people,” Sjöberg said.
In his last race repping BU, Malleck finished third in the mile, as his team erupted in cheers at their watch party back home.
Despite his ten All-Patriot League selections and numerous records, Malleck nearly left the sport entirely last summer.
“I wasn’t sure I was gonna come back at the end of last year, I kind of got convinced to,” he said. “I only had one season of eligibility, and I said, ‘Why not just go all-in on this one season?’”
Malleck credited his former coach Jordan Carpenter with convincing him to return after Canadian Nationals last July.
“If I told myself back then I was gonna get third at NCAAs, I would’ve come back in a heartbeat,” said Malleck.
Malleck had already achieved so much before the performance at Nationals, holding the indoor school record in the 1500m, mile and 3000m.
In her three years so far, Sjöberg captured indoor school records in the 1000m, 1500m, mile and 3000m. She scored 30 points to lead the Terriers to their third-ever Patriot League women’s indoor track and field championship earlier this year.
Sjöberg is the only Terrier in history to sweep the mile, 3000m and 5000m at a Patriot League Championship — a feat she has now accomplished in consecutive years. She is also the only Swedish athlete who will compete in the women’s 1500m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships this weekend.
Both athletes were honored as Patriot League Scholar-Athletes of the Year for the indoor track & field season. Sjöberg took home the award for the second straight year — the second Terrier ever to do so.
“These are two extremely high character individuals,” said Molz, who also coaches Sjöberg in cross country. “I think they’re a great representation of the type of student-athlete that comes to BU.”
Molz says their trend of excellence on and off the track sets a great precedent for the program moving forward.
“It does wonders for future recruits and people that are interested,” Molz said. “To show that we don’t only care about running quickly, but we also care about getting it done in the classroom.”
Both athletes have performed on a global stage before, representing their respective countries in international competitions.
Sjöberg debuted for the Swedish senior national team June 2023, setting a then-personal best in the 5000m.
While Sjöberg has senior national experience under her belt, she looks forward to repping her home country after a decorated season at the collegiate level.
“I’m just super grateful that I get to represent Sweden,” said Sjöberg. “I’ve been racing for BU this whole season, so it’s fun to get to race for Sweden as well.”
This weekend will be Malleck’s first time competing at the senior level, though he has previously competed at the U20 and U23 levels.
“I think there’s a good chance it’s similar to the environment at NCAAs, which is definitely the craziest environment I’ve experienced,” Malleck said. “I’ve heard it’s a nice facility and has a pretty big capacity, so we’ll see.”
Malleck began his track career at BU in the 2019-2020 season, capping it off with a strong fourth place performance in the mile at the PL indoor championships. He credits his teammates for his enduring success.
“They’re so supportive,” said Malleck. “Those guys come in, work hard every day, push me and hold me accountable.”
Even without their teammates there to cheer them on — being the only two Terriers to make the NCAA Indoor finals — both athletes performed and cemented themselves as among the best in the country.
The pair will run in Nanjing March 21 in the 1500m heats. Sjöberg runs first at 6:33 a.m. EST, and Malleck follows closely at 7:18 a.m. EST.
Reflecting on six years at BU, Malleck put it simply.
“It’s been quite a journey.”
