From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Northern Burlington’s Liliah Gordon became the 3rd-fastest Burlington County freshman ever at Holmdel Saturday morning with a fast 2nd-place finish in the state Group 3 meet.

Gordon covered the challenging 5,000-meter course at Holmdel County Park in 18:44, behind only Colts Neck senior Lilly Shapiro, who ran 17:59.

Gordon ran 19:00 at Shore Coaches in her only previous race at Holmdel. The only South Jersey freshmen to run faster in the last 20 years are Briana Gess of Haddonfield in 2013 [17:45], Alyssa Aldridge of Mainland in 2014 [18:22], Grace Yoon of Cherry Hill East in 2016 [18:28] and Shawnee’s Casey Doyle in 2007 [18:39].

Her time is fastest by a Burlington County girl at Holmdel since Megan Lacy of Cherokee ran 17:55 in 2010.

The fastest previous time by a Northern Burlington girl at Holmdel was Colleen Sunderland’s 19:20 in 1994.

With a top-10 finish, Gordon qualified for the Meet of Champions next Saturday on the same course. She has placed either first or second in every race she’s entered this year.

Mainland freshman Sofia Day finished 6th in 19:04, making her the second-fastest girl in Mainland history behind Alyssa Aldridge, whose fastest Holmdel time was 17:55. Mainland placed 6th overall with 218 points.

Also in the top 10 was Highland junior Grace Wassell, who ran 19:08, a Holmdel PR .

Highland junior Abby Waddington also broke 20 minutes, taking 14th place in 19:53.