By David Rogers. BREVARD, N.C. — Thanks to a well-conditioned contingent from ZAP Endurance, Blowing Rock captured four of the top nine finishes overall on March 9, including a sweep of Nos. 1 and 2 in BOTH the men’s and women’s divisions of the Oskar Blues 4-Mile Run.
Andrew Colley (No. 1, 18:04) set a new course record in the men’s division, followed by ZAP Endurance teammate Eric Van Der Els (No. 2, 18:36). Ryan Drew of Greenville, S.C. finished in the No. 3 position, in 18:49. Colley’s winning time was a 4:31 mile pace over the four miles’ distance.
ZAP Endurance’s newest team member, Amanda Vestri, set a new course record in the Women’s Division by finishing No. 1, in 20:30, outpacing ZAP teammate Annmarie Tuxbury at No. 2, in 22:07. Well off the winning pace at No. 3 was Jessica Payne of Brevard, in 25:28.
More than 200 runners competed in the race. The race course is described as “fast and flat”, even if running in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The start and finish are both at the Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard.
