By David Rogers. CANTON, Ohio (remote) — Maybe Amanda Vestri was proving the old adage, No. 2 tries harder.
After finishing as the runner-up in the 2024 USATF Women’s 6Km Championship, Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance’s Vestri, sponsored by Brooks athletic apparel, returned to Canton, Ohio a year later to finish No. 1 in the 2025 version of the event, crossing the finish line almost seven seconds ahead of the new No. 2, Annie Frisbie (Minnesota Distance Elite, Puma), 18:28.57 vs. 18:35.26.
Two other Puma-sponsored runners, Fiona O’Keefe (No. 3, 18:37.18) and Molly Born (No. 4, 18:40.01) were the only other professional runners to cross the line in under 19 minutes.
A year ago, Vestri completed the 6Km (3.728 miles) in 18:16. Weather might have played a part in the marginally slower time. When the gun went off to start the race at 8 am, the temperature was already approaching 90 degrees, with wind gusts exceeding 11 mph and 80 percent humidity.
The USATF-sanctioned national championships was run in conjunction with the Women’s 6K Festival. Vestri led from the start to the finish, running the first two miles at a 4:53 pace for each one and opening a three second lead over a group of four, including Frisbie, O’Keefe, Born and Edna Kurgat.
For the closing distance, Vestri used her High Country training to great effect, as described by the USATF account.
“Then, Vestri powered up the course’s largest hill to make the gap insurmountable. She led by seven seconds 5K and that was the margin of victory when she broke the tape at Centennial Plaza,” said the USATF account.
“I just kind of wanted to take it from the gun,” said Vestri, who moves into second place in the USATF Running Circuit point standings, according to the USATF account. “In these shorter races, I’m not really keen to just sit and run 5:15, 5:20. So, I just wanted to take it out. That’s the best way I run.”
While picking up a $6,000 check as the winner, Vestri moves on from road racing to the the track where she will compete in the USATF Outdoor National Championships in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, in Eugene, Ore., July 31 to Aug. 3.
