After a string of podium finishes at USA Road Championships, Amanda finally got her title at the Women’s 6k Festival on Saturday. And she did it in dominating fashion, cruising to an 8 second win in 18:28.
Amanda wasted no time making her imprint on the race, hitting the front at the crack of the gun and never taking her foot off the gas. Amanda’s blistering pace reduced the lead pack to 4 runners by the time she hit the mile in 4:53. Amanda clipped off another 4:53 in the 2nd mile, and by that point she had broken free from the pack and was running solo.
Her 3 second gap at 2 miles would only grow over the 2nd half of the race. By the time she hit 5k in 15:19 she was up by 8 seconds, a margin she would carry all the way to the finish. After the race Amanda told USATF’s Jay Holder, “I just kind of wanted to take it from the gun. 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.”
Amanda was unfazed by the muggy, 80 degree day in Canton, OH, a sign she’ll be well prepared for the potential warm weather at the USA Track & Field Championships in Eugene at the end of July. That is where Amanda will be in action next. She will compete in the 10,000m on Thursday, July 31st and then again on Sunday, August 3rd in the 5,000m.
You can find full results here.
Mr. & Mrs. Colley Sweep Beat the Heat 5k
Andrew and Tristin Colley joined Annmarie Tuxbury at the Beat the Heat 5k in Winston-Salem over the weekend. The Colley Power Couple came away with dominate victories, with Andrew clocking 13:53 to win by over 30 seconds and Tristin running 16:16 to win by nearly 30 seconds.
As one of the highest level races in North Carolina every year, Andrew came into the race with the North Carolina state record on his mind. And while the warm conditions prevented Andrew from making a run at his road 5k PR of 13:33, he did take 12 seconds off the previous state record of 14:05.
On the women’s side Tristin took command of the race early and by 1k into the race had a small gap that she would widen significantly as the race progressed. Her final time of 16:16 was 27 seconds ahead of 2nd place. Annmarie finished in 6th place. Andrew took a similar strategy, pulling his former NC State teammate Graham Crawford through the first half of the race before breaking free over the 2nd half and cruising to a 33 second win. You can find full results here.
All 3 athletes will be back in action this coming weekend at the Crazy 8’s 8k in Kingsport, TN.