The ZAP team put their stamp on one of the most impressive displays of half marathon running in US history on Sunday in Atlanta. Not only was a US Championship on the line, but the top 3 finishers earned a spot to the World Road Running Championships, to be held on US soil for the first time this September in San Diego.
The lure of representing Team USA on US soil brought out incredibly deep fields and intense competition in both the men’s and women’s race. Amanda Vestri and Tristin Colley competed in the women’s field while Andrew Colley and Ryan Ford competed in the men’s.
Despite the sub-freezing windchill, the women’s race was out fast on the hilly downtown Atlanta course. Emily Venters towed a field of 13, including Amanda, through a brisk opening 5k of 16:15. Tristin, who is prepping for the Boston Marathon, passed 5k with the chase pack in 16:30. Despite the fast early pace, American record holder, Weini Kelati, upped the tempo after 5k, breaking free from the field. Her 2nd 5k split of 15:47 was a bold move, and with her 1:06:09 PR from 6 weeks ago, she had the pedigree to run away with the race.
Kelati’s lead was 8 seconds at 10k, and running behind her was Amanda in a small pack of 4 athletes. As the most serious hills in the race began at 8 miles, Taylor Roe and Emma Grace Hurley began to pull away from Amanda. At the same time Kelati’s stopped growing and quickly began to dwindle. By 15k Roe and Hurley had passed Kelati and Amanda had closed the gap to 3rd place. The 4 mile stretch from 8-12 miles including a punishing series of difficult climbs, but as Amanda began to close on Kelati her suffering turned to excitement.
Amanda caught and went by Kelati at 10 miles. From there Amanda’s position in the top 3 was never again in doubt. She would go on to cross the line in 1:08:17, 20 seconds ahead of 4th place and 42 seconds off her personal best, an impressive accomplishment on the challenging course. Tristin used a strong stretch through the hills to pick up a few spots and finish in 16th place. Her time of 1:11:50 was less than 30 seconds off her personal best, a very good sign for her Boston fitness and a strong effort in her first race since New York in November.
In the men’s race, Olympian Hillary Bor was aggressive from the start, stringing out a pack of 12 as they reached 5k in 14:06 – well under pace to break 1 hour. The pace slowed from 5k to 10k, but Bor continued to be a force at the front, throwing in surges and opening up small gaps throughout the first half of the race. Just past 4 miles Bor had created separation with a small group of 4 athletes. Andrew Colley pulled the chase group back up to the front. Ryan Ford found himself off the back of the chase pack as Andrew moved the group toward the front. But along with Andrew, Ryan was able to regain contact with the lead pack by 10k.
As the group approached 15k, Ryan and Andrew remained firmly planted in the lead group. Andrew would find himself drifting to the front frequently on the uphill stretches, continuing to keep the momentum of the group rolling. Just before 10 miles eventual winner, Alex Maier, asserted himself for the first time. His move, on one of the courses longest climbs, took the pack from 6 down to 4 with the Andrew and Ryan drifting off the pace.
Andrew would stay in 5th the rest of the way, crossing the line in 1:01:09, a mere 10 seconds from the podium. Ryan finished 20 seconds back in 1:01:29, good for 7th place. Despite the fast times on the day, it can’t be understated how challenging the course was. Despite not landing on the podium, Andrew and Ryan still took down multiple Olympians and over a half a dozen marathoners who are sub 2:11 performers. It was a staggering day for US Road Running that will likely go under-appreciated due to the nature of the course.
You can find the full results here, and watch the full replay below (cued to start at beginning of the race, but you can scroll back from some fun race previews including interviews with Andrew and Amanda.) The races are worth rewatching on their own merits, but it’s also one of the best produced road races we can remember seeing.