Northern Burlington freshman Liliah Gordon wrapped up her first season of high school cross country with a win at the USATF National Junior Olympics.
The 14-year-old Gordon, competing for Shore Athletic Club, ran 19:21 in wet, muddy conditions over 5,000 meters at Bourbon County Park in Paris, Ky., to win the 15-18 age group race.
Vanessa Alder of Carlisle (Pa.) High, who has run 4:38.86 for 1,500 meters, was second in 19:45. Alder’s mother, Janeth Alder (nee Caizalitín), ran the 3,000 at the 1992 Olympics in B Barcelona representing Ecuador and was a multiple South American junior champion.
Gordon this year won titles at the Shore Coaches and BCSL meets and was second at the County Open, sectionals and state Group 3 meet. She ran 18:29 at Holmdel to place eighth in the Meet of Champions.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 