By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Having broken Syracuse University long distance records at 3,000 meters (9:04), 5,000 meters (15:42), and 10,000 meters (32:08) — the latter one of the fastest collegiate times ever for an American — Amanda Vestri is bringing her talents to Blowing Rock as the newest member of ZAP Endurance’s elite professional running team.
In her final year of eligibility at Syracuse, the fifth-year senior earned First Team All-American honors both indoor (at 5,000 meters) and outdoor (at 10,000 meters) in track. She placed No. 7 in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Track & Field Championships.
In cross country, she won the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship and was Syracuse’s top finisher in the ACC Championships, taking third overall.
Vestri used her first two years of collegiate eligibility competing for Iowa State University, before transferring to Syracuse. At ISU, she also earned All-American and several times and All-Big 12 performer at the 3,000 to 10,000-meters distances.
A native of Webster, N.Y., she competed in high school for Webster Thomas HS. At Syracuse, she worked on a graduate degree in Intercollegiate Athletic Advising and Support.
“Amanda is not only immensely talented but a very positive individual who wants to make both herself and her teammates better,” said ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea.
In speaking with High Country Sports, Rea pointed out that Vestri is aiming for longer events, which makes her the perfect fit for the ZAP Endurance team.
“While Amamda still has a lot of room for growth on the track, her desire and openness regarding longer events on the roads made her an athlete we wanted here in Blowing Rock. at ZAP.”
Rea noted that in her first exploration of the longer events as a post-collegian, Vestri scored her first top 10 USATF Road Championship performance earlier this month (Sept. 4), in New Haven, Conn., where she finished No. 10 in the USATF 20k Road Racing Championships.
