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With the ACC Outdoor Track and Field championships two weeks away the Syracuse Orange built some needed momentum over the weekend at the Virginia Grand Prix. Amanda Vestri continued her spectacular season winning the 5k in a time of 15:59 as Jordan Jacob and Reilly Zink finished 8th and 9th respectively. Justus Holden-Betts was 7th in the 3000m steeplechase in a season-best time of 10:32.
Eunice Boateng had two top-ten finishes for the Orange sprint group as she was 7th in the 100m and 2nd (top collegian) in the 200m. In the 100m hurdles Ashley Wallace took 2nd while Shaleah Colaire was 5th. Colaire was also 5th (2nd collegian) in the 400m hurdles.
For the Syracuse men, Anthony Vasquez took 4th in the 110m hurdles with Jamil Adams placing 8th in the same event. Adams also took 4th (2nd collegian) in the 400m hurdles. On the distance side, Aidan Tooker was 6th in the 3000m steeplechase in his season-best time of 8:50 while Joe Dragon took 9th in the 5k in 14:04.
Beyond the upcoming ACC meet, NCAA track athletes got good news as the NCAA has reversed a previous decision and will allow up to 48 competitors from each event to compete at the two regionals.
WE DID IT! The @NCAA has listened and is going to #REINSTATE48! Credit @Div1SAAC and all who raised your voices!!! This is a huge win for our @NCAATrackField student-athletes!!! @BryceChoate @AhmedYAmaar @AGarrett__ - incredible job representing the needs of our student-athletes! pic.twitter.com/hDrMDI3bhx
— Justin Herbert, Ed. D (@CoachJHerbert) April 29, 2021
Current Syracuse athletes in position to qualify for the regionals right now are:
- Amanda Vestri and Annie Heffernan- 5k and 10k
- Shaleah Colaire- 100m hurdles
- Aidan Tooker- 3000m steeplechase
- JP Trojan, Silas Derfel and Joe Dragon- 10k
Not sure if the Orange will compete next week or take the time to prepare for the ACC Championships which will be held at NC State in two weeks.