All-Time Greats

Rob Cook 1991-95

• 3,000-meter SC
• 5,000 meters
• cross country

Rob Cook earned All-America honors in the steeplechase as a senior at UVa in 1994. He also was named Most Valuable Performer of the 1994 ACC Outdoor Championships after winning the 5,000 meters and defending his conference title in the steeplechase in school-record time. Following his tremendous career at UVa, Cook was named to the 1996 U.S. National Cross Country team which competed in South Africa. He also qualified for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials finals in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.

Paul Ereng 1988-92

• 800 meters

Paul Ereng was a three-time Atlantic Coast Conference and NCAA champion, and four-time All-American at UVa. Ereng won the 1988 NCAA Outdoor 800-meter title as a freshman and later burst onto the world scene by sprinting past Joaquim Cruz and Said Aouita in 800-meter finals to capture a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. Ereng set a world record in the 800 meters at the 1989 World Indoor Championships. Later that year (1989), Ereng was awarded the 5th Annual Jumbo Elliot Award, which recognizes the nation's outstanding male collegiate track and field athlete.

Margaret Groos 1977-81

• cross country
• indoor track (multi-event)
• outdoor track (multi-event)

Forging the way in women's athletics at Virginia, Margaret Groos was the first UVa female athlete to receive an athletic grant-in-aid. During her career, Groos set Virginia records in every distance event from the 1,500 meters to the 10,000 meters and she still holds five records: the indoor 1,500 meters, two miles and 5,000 meters and the outdoor 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters. In all, Groos was a four-time All-American, with honors coming in the 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, and cross country on two occasions (1978 and 1979).

Patty Matava 1983-88

• 5,000 meters
• cross country

Patty Matava became the first Cavalier in history to be named All-American for four consecutive years. Matava earned these honors in cross country in 1985, 1986, and 1987 and in outdoor track (5,000 meters) in 1988. In 1984, Matava won the ACC 5,000m title (outdoors) with a time of 16:49.50. Her finish helped Virginia capture its second of five consecutive outdoor track championships. Matava was also a member of the 1985 United States' National Cross Country Team in 1985. A year later, Matava qualified in three events for the NCAA Track and Field Championships.