Vestri Sets School Record in Return to Racing

In her first collegiate event in more than a calendar year, Amanda Vestri broke Syracuse’s 5,000-meter run record that was previously held by Paige Stoner (2018).

Her win highlighted a strong day for the Orange across two meets, with multiple PRs and victories to celebrate along with the record, between Boston and Ithaca.

Vestri crossed the line in 15:42.48 at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston to break the four-year old record. Her time was 17th overall at an event that featured professionals and a who’s who of the nation’s elite runners. She bested Stoner’s time by just under two seconds.

 

Teammate Savannah Roark (16:08.89) also competed just two weeks after earning All-America honors in cross country, taking 43rd. Madeline Heintz (17:38.38) and Carolina Kirby (17:43.19) also raced for the ‘Cuse women.

Ruben Rojas Betanzos had a strong Orange debut, taking 32nd in the 3000-meter run (8:26.41). Bethany Steiner (10:06.33) raced in the women’s event.

Paul O’Donnell led the way in the men’s 5k, finishing in 13:54.94.

Trei Thorogood (6.72) and Kahniya James (7.48) won the men’s and women’s 60-meter dash races at the Greg Page Relays. Thorogood’s time was a new personal-best mark.

James Nmah also advanced to the semifinals (7.03) in the men’s 60-meter dash, while Carlton Landingham ran a time of 7.23 in his Orange debut. Nmah turned in a time of 7.02 in the semis, but was unable to advance to the final.

Behind James’ win, Morgan Marshall (7.72) took sixth after advancing to the finals of the women’s race. Kaleia Arrington (7.80) and Shaleah Colaire (7.83) each just missed on the finals, taking 12th and 13th, respectively, after advancing to the semifinals.

Anthony Vazquez added to the victories, with a personal-best time in the 60-meter hurdles. He led three Orange into the top-four, crossing the line in 7.95 seconds. Teammates Emmanuel Joseph (8.03) and Naseem Smith (8.11) took third and fourth, respectively. Xayvion Perkins (ninth, 8.25 seconds) and Elijah Mallard (12th, 8.45 seconds) narrowly missed advancing to the finals.

Lizzie Bigelow also earned a win for the Orange. She crossed the line in 3:02.27 in the 1000-meter run, to win by a half second.

Peyton Rollins took third in the women’s hurdles. She crossed the line in 8.76 seconds. Sophomore Kirstyn Schechter finished sixth, and Sheridan McGadden took ninth to miss the finals by one place. Hannah Schofield was 11th and Olivia Etienvre took 18th to round out the ‘Cuse finishers.