Gordon’s Junior Olympics win earns her USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Winning the 15-18 girls’ race at the USATF Junior Olympics, Liliah Gordon (Columbus, New Jersey) earned recognition as the 37th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2021. 

Representing Shore Athletic Club at the USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships in Paris, Kentucky, Gordon overcame unfriendly weather conditions to dominate the 15-18 age division 5K race in 19:21.6, almost 24 seconds ahead of the next finisher in the 129-athlete race. That performance earned Gordon the age 15-16 title. 

A ninth grader at Northern Burlington Regional High School, Gordon was eighth in the New Jersey state cross country meet in late November after winning her league title and finishing as runner-up at the sectional and group stages. She was the top freshman finisher at the state championships. 

Other top performances from last week:

• Dan King won the overall men’s masters title at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships with a 29:55.2 for 8 km in the 60-64 division. His time also earned him the age-graded win.
• Natosha Rogers won the women’s individual title at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships and led her Hansons-Brooks Distance Project squad to the team title, covering the 6 km distance in 19:42.
• Frankline Tonui of Nike was the men’s individual winner at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships, clocking 30:14.6 for 10 km.
• Abby Steiner of Kentucky bettered the women’s collegiate indoor record in the 300m with a 35.80 at Louisville. Her time moved her to No. 3 on the all-time U.S. performer list.

Now in its 20th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 

2021 Winners: January 21, KC Lightfoot; January 28, Ryan Crouser; February 4, Bryce Hoppel; February 11, Athing Mu; February 18, Elle Purrier; February 25, Jaylen Slade; March 4, Grant Holloway; March 11, Emmanuel Bor; March 18, Tara Davis; March 25, Emily Sisson; April 1, Tara Davis; April 8, Kenny Selmon; April 15, DeAnna Price; April 22, Athing Mu; April 29, Rudy Winkler; May 6, Trayvon Bromell; May 13, Sha’Carri Richardson; May 20, Athing Mu; May 27, Ryan Crouser; June 3, Maggie Malone; June 10, Trayvon Bromell; June 24, Ryan Crouser; July 1, Sydney McLaughlin; July 21, Maggie Malone; August 25, Athing Mu; September 2, Courtney Dauwalter; September 9, Michael Cherry; September 16, Valarie Allman; September 23, Nora Cary; September 30, Rachel Johnson; October 12, Galen Rupp; October 19, Jenny Hitchings; October 26, Makena Morley; November 11, Weini Kelati; December 9, Keira D’Amato; December 16, Liliah Gordon. 

We welcome your nominations! 

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about his/her performance to communications@usatf.org. 

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