Cause for Celebration: Amanda Duvendack
Photo Credit: fightingillini.com
Hometown hero Amanda Duvendack is this week's Cause for Celebration: Triumphs of Women in Running Presented by PNC.
Amanda is a former 800-meter star at Metamora High School and two-time IHSA state champion with a personal best of 2:10. She was named Track and Field Athlete of the Year by Peoria Journal Star in 2010 and ran into more success at the University of Illinois, qualifying for the NCAA championships in the 800 with a time of 2:05 (the third fastest in school history). In her junior year, she rose to the top in the U.S. with a 16th place finish at Nationals in Oregon.
When asked about what running means to her, Amanda said “The main thing I enjoy is the feeling of working hard. I love the challenge. I love seeing a workout on a piece of paper and then when it is done, knowing that I accomplished something. It is a rewarding process.”
After college she returned home to teach Honors Biology, Anatomy, and Physiology; she also coaches Cross Country at Metamora High School (where she still holds the records in the 200, 400, 800, and 4x400).
