Since bursting on the scene as a freshman phenom at Northern Burlington in 2021, Liliah Gordon has been in the mix to win a Meet of Champions title multiple times on the trails and on the track.
Gordon, who has won the last two Group 3 XC titles, won the Group 3 Championship in the 3,200 last winter and blasted PR's at every distance on the track and in XC as a junior last year, has gotten closer and closer each season to winning a coveted M of C crown.
During her remarkable XC career, Gordon finished 8th as freshman, 7th as a sophomore, and 5th as a junior at the M of C.
And last indoor season, Gordon finished second in the 3,200 at the Meet of Champions, finishing just .05 behind Rosemary Shay of Middletown South, 10:26.44 to 10:26.49.
So as she pounds out her summer mileage while building a strong base, Gordon, a Foot Locker National XC qualifier last year, is fueled by her quest to capture that elusive M of C title this season.
NJ MileSplit recently caught up with Gordon to get her thoughts on her chances of winning the Meet of Champions title, other big goals for the season, her very high fitness level, her big PR's on the track, her distance running journey, the summer training and a whole lot more.
So lean back in your fancy beach chair or grab your favorite spot on the couch and enjoy our latest installment of Feature Friday as we shine the spotlight on the great Liliah Gordon!!!
NJM: How is your summer training going? How many miles a week have you been running, and where have you mostly been running? Is your training different from last summer? If so, in what way is it different?
My summer training has been going great. I'm already seeing a lot of progress compared to last summer. Throughout my high school career our approach has been to increase my mileage conservatively to stay injury free while consistently progressing. I mostly run at school with my team, the Manasquan Reservoir, Union transportation trail, and Holmdel park of course. This summers training is similar to last summer but I have also been going to SETS in Hamilton for strength and conditioning. They have great trainers in a community/team atmosphere!
Have you attended a Running Camp this summer, or are you planning to attend one? If so, which camp and in what ways do you feel a running camp helps in your preparation for the upcoming season?
I'm attending the RunningWorks Camp in the Poconos. My team and I have went there for the past 2 years and have loved it! We look forward to our week at camp all year. We learn a lot and I really enjoy the large group runs. Camp is a great environment that gets us pumped up for the upcoming season. They have the best counselors and motivational speakers.
When will you open your season?
My first race will be the Adidas XC Challenge in N.C. on Sept 21. I ran this course last year at the Great American XC Festival, and knew last year I wanted to run the course again this year.
After running a big PR of 17:51 at Franklin Park in Boston to earn a spot on the line at Foot Locker Nationals, and winning your second straight Group 3 title and dropping a Holmdel PR of 18:14, what are your biggest goals for this season? And what times would you like to hit at Holmdel, Franklin Park and Mill Creek Park etc?
Winning Meet of Champions is definitely the goal. My other goal is the opportunity to run at Foot Locker Nationals again. I want to not only make it back, but be in the mix in San Diego. Having had the experience, I now know what I need to do to run well there. On the track this past year one of my goals was to consistently run sub 5 in the mile and I was able to achieve that. So this XC season I'd like to run sub 18 consistently across all courses.
You are the second highest returning finisher from the Meet of Champions last year, so you are obviously one of the top contenders to win that race this season. How big of a goal is winning the Meet of Champions XC title, how do you feel about your chances to win that race, and what would that mean to you, Liliah?
I'm training to win. When I toe the line in NJ, the goal is always to win, and Meet of Champions is no different-there is only one goal. It would mean the world to me. I've been in the mix for 3 years and know I can run the time to win.
NJ is obviously loaded with distance running talent with several runners, including yourself, returning who have run well under 19 at Holmdel. What are your thoughts on the amount of talent in NJ and how fast do you think it will take to win the Meet of Champions? Could we see times under 17:50 and even under 17:40?
I'm lucky to live in a state with this much talent. It only makes us all better. To be honest I'm not sure how fast it will have to be. The winning times fluctuate and each year has been very different but given all the talent, I can see NJ dropping some fast times.
You are coming off an amazing junior year on the track with PR's of 4:51.84 in the 1,600 and 10:22.20, 3,200 and 17:04.54 for 5K. How much of a huge confidence builder was that for you, and how much hungrier did that make you to have the best XC season of your career this fall?
It was definitely a huge confidence builder for me running PRs in every event this spring. It makes me excited about what I can now do on each of my XC courses this fall. I'm definitely hungry for more, this sport always leaves you wanting more.
What was the key for you to drop your times so much on the track? What was the biggest difference in your training, the way you raced and your mindset that you feel enabled you to make those drops?
I focused more on strength training and that helped me feel stronger and more efficient in my races. Coach Rafferty's training is very similar each track season but he may add another rep or interval in a workout as I get older and stronger. Seeing the results in my workouts give me confidence. My mindset goal was to not overthink, to trust in my coach and training. Coach Rafferty always reminds me that there is a certain point in a race where you have to make a decison and commit to your race plan.
What is the story behind how you became a runner? When did you first start running, and how did it come about?
I tried lots of sports when I was younger but mostly loved soccer so I started running to improve in soccer. When I was about 10 my mom signed me up for a couple of fun runs and I fell in love with running. I ran unattached with my mom as my coach and competed in the Junior Olympics on the track, winning states and making it through to regionals and nationals my first year running. At the advice of a experienced coach, I remained running unattached and just for fun for a few more years while playing soccer. Later down the line I joined Gone Running with Bob Andrews as my coach and trained alongside Emma Zawatski and Jessica Abbott. It was around this time I stopped playing soccer, which was a hard decision but I knew my future was in running. The Gone Running program set me up well for success in high school.
When was your first big breakthrough moment when you began to realize that you could do big things in this sport?
I had a lot of success early on in my freshman season running against other talented NJ freshman but when I came out and won The Shore Coaches Invitational at Holmdel against older girls on our state course, I knew I could go on and do big things. Then ending my freshman season winning the National Junior Olympic Championships and being named USATF athlete of the week was really a dream. It made me see my potential and reach for bigger goals. Watching NJ athletes in the trials and make the Olympics has been really inspiring.
What do you consider the best race you've ever run and why?
Foot Locker Northeast Regionals at Franklin Park in Boston was by far my best cross country race so far. I felt so strong and really enjoyed that race. Making it through to Nationals was a huge goal of mine from the very start of highschool. It was the number 1 goal of my junior cross country season. This was one of those races where my plan going in fell right into place.
What do you love the most about being a runner, and what do you love the most about running in N.J.?
I love the hard work and grit that is put into training and how rewarding and exciting it is seeing the results of that hard work. I love the community that NJ running has. I get together with some Jersey girls to run during the summer and it's always a fun time.
How about the future, Liliah - what colleges are you planning to take official visits, what are you looking for in a college, and what would you like to major in?
I'm going to keep you hanging on the details of this one until mid October when I make my decision. I have already went on one official visit with most planned for this Aug/Sept. I feel really good about the colleges I'll be visiting and coaches I'm talking to. I'm looking at colleges that have great coaches and great running programs while also being great schools too. I want a place with a good environment and a place that I will make an impact on the team. I would like to major in Biology and/or Forensic Science.
When you are not running/training, in school or doing schoolwork, what other interests/hobbies do you have?
I love listening to music and playing piano and guitar. I love shopping and hanging out with my friends. I also like going to the beach.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I hope to have a masters degree and I'd love to be a professional runner to see how far I can take this sport. And later down the road, would love to become a coach!
