By David Rogers. PEORIA, Ill. — Only one familiar foe separated the High Country-based Amanda Vestri from the top of the awards podium on June 14 in the 2025 Steamboat Classic, run this year as the United States Track & Field Federation’s 4-Mile National Championship.
Oklahoma State alum Taylor Roe, running for Puma Elite Running, crossed the finish line in 19:40, with ZAP Endurance team member Vestri, representing Brooks Running Shoes, just 22 seconds behind in 20:02 and another Puma Elite athlete, Molly Born finishing No. 3 in 20:11.
Both Roe and Vestri are only a week removed from leaderboard finishes in the Mastercard New York Mini 10K on the streets of midtown Manhattan and Central Park. Roe finished that race as the No. 3 runner and Vestri at No. 6 out of almost 10,000 women competing.
For Vestri, the Steamboat Classic and USATF 4-Mile National Championship performance was just another step in her progression to national prominence in distance running, aiming to be a top marathoner.
Vestri ran the first mile in a commendable 5 minutes, 16 seconds (5:16), then picked up the pace for the second (5:00) and third (5:01) miles before blistering the fourth mile in 4:47.
“Amanda ran an amazing Steamboat race,” said Pete Rea, her Blowing Rock-based, ZAP Endurance head coach. “Bit by bit, she has made herself a force on the U.S. distance running circuit. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for her at the USATF Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., in July and August, where she will double at the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters distances.”
