Hall of Fame
If one were to take a quick scan through the Columbia track & field records book, the last name Boylan-Pett will stand out among the crowd.
Having followed his accomplished older brother Will to Columbia, Liam Boylan-Pett ‘08CC had quick shoes to fill in the middle distance events.
During his junior season in 2007, Boylan-Pett would do just that, qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 800m run. The Bath, Michigan, native would go on to finish 26th, with a season best time of 1:48.28.
Perhaps the highlight of the 2007 season came a month prior however, at the Penn Relays. Alongside Mike Mark, Jonah Rathbun, and Erison Hurtault, the quartet took the tape in the 4x800m relay, giving Columbia its first Championship of American victory at the event since 1938. Powered by Boylan-Pett’s anchor leg, the quartet broke a school record on that day by nearly three seconds, clocking a 7:22.64.
Boylan-Pett was a three-time Ivy League champion in the middle distance events, winning the indoor mile in both 2007 and 2008, and earning a title in the outdoor 1,500m during his senior season. Three-times an Academic All-Ivy League selection, he was twice a recipient of the teams Harrison K. Bird Award, which goes to the outstanding member of the varsity track squad, and also received the Edgar “Dick” Mason Trophy, which goes to the athlete that shows enthusiasm, perseverance, and competitive spirit.
After his collegiate career concluded, Boylan-Pett became the 315th athlete to break the 4-minute mile mark, clocking a 3:59.40 in 2009. He has a lifetime best of 1:46.66 in the 800m from 2012, as well as a 3:57.75 to his name in the 1 Mile run.
Boylan-Pett has also stayed active outside the track since graduating, earning a Master’s of Professional Studies in Journalism from Georgetown. A freelance sports writer for more than eight years now, Boylan-Pett has written for numerous of sports news publications including SB Nation Longform, Running Times, Bleacher Report, Columbia College Today, and Bring Back the Mile. He also co-founded Mass Transit Racers, a running club in New York City and served as an associate editor of Runner’s World and Running Times magazines.
