Syracuse Orange track & cross country update for late August – Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

As the Syracuse Orange cross-country teams report back to campus to begin their 2019 season there are some changes to catch up on-both on the rosters and the coaching staff. The Orange women added some experienced NCAA runners to this year’s team as they look to qualify for the NCAA Championships this fall.

Webster, N.Y. native Amanda Vestri transferred after spending two years with the Iowa St. Cyclones. Vestri was 14th in the 2019 NCAA Outdoor 10k and her addition will help Syracuse fill the gap left by the graduation of Paige Stoner and Shannon Malone. Her addition will help returners Laura Dickinson and Rachel Bonner as they look to take that next step in their careers.

Jordan Jacob joins Syracuse as a graduate transfer from the Boise State Broncos. Jacob finished 5th in the 10k at last spring’s Mountain West championships and she will add to the depth of the Orange squad.

As the season gears up several running related websites are posting their predictions. The Stride Report has the Syracuse men 17th in their preseason rankings. FloTrack puts Aidan Tooker 23rd in their individual rankings while Amanda Vestri comes in at 14th in the FloTrack top 25.

The Syracuse track programs also added two NCAA Division III All Americans to the roster over the summer. Graduate transfer Phoebe Aguiar from Macalester College is joining the Orange after winning the NCAA Division III 800 meters championship in both indoor and outdoor track.

The #HurdleCuse group picked up Tyler Garland from Rowan University after his 3rd place finish in the 110m hurdles at the D3 Outdoor Championships. Also joining the Syracuse sprint/hurdle group will be new assistant coach Reuben McCoy who left the Auburn Tigers to become part of the Orange staff.

Syracuse also welcomes back assistant coach Raynee DeGrio this Fall. DeGrio was with the Orange from 2013-15 and returns after coaching stints at Ball State and Toledo. She will be working with the mid-distance/distance group.

In alumni news:

Joey Whelan was featured on Runners World for his ability to balance work and marathon training. Whelan is one of several Syracuse alumni who will race in the Olympic Trials next February.

At the 2019 Pan Am Games, Freddie Crittenden III won the silver medal in the 110m hurdles while Jarret Eaton earned a bronze medal as part of the USA 4x100m relay. Sarah Pagano took 6th in the women’s 10k. Crittenden was also 2nd at the Birmingham Diamond League meet over the weekend and gave people an inside look at how he prepares for competition.