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The Syracuse Orange track and field teams started their 2021 indoor season last weekend. The Orange sent a group of distance runners to the Virginia Tech Invitational as they returned to action for the first time since October.
Amanda Vestri picked right up where she left off as she won the 5000m in a time of 16:09 well ahead of teammate Ellie Lawler who ran 18:05. Syracuse entered seven women in the 3000m and that group took places 2-8 led by Jordan Jacob’s 9:58. After Jacob it was Justus Holden-Betts (10:02), Abigail Spiers (10:08), Olivia Elston (10:22), Emma Eastman (10:40), Emma Wilson (11:00) and Elizabeth Cultra (11:24).
The Syracuse men swept the top six spots in the 5000m. JP Trojan took the win in 14:20 with Silas Derfel (14:27), Matthew Scrape (14:33), Alex Comerford (14:33), Nathan Henderson (14:45) and Joey Eovaldi (15:11) completing the sweep. In the men’s 3000m Ethan Wechsler was 7th in 8:33 with Sam Lawlor (8:36) and Kevin Robertson (8:44) right behind him. Syracuse’s Gabriel Planty (11th in 8:51) and Matthew Dragon (13th in 9:14) completed the Orange contingent in the event while Gavin Richards ran 4:14 to place second in the mile.
Syracuse will return to Virginia Tech the first weekend in February for their next competition. It’s one of four meets for the Orange before the ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships.