Girls Track: Lyons’ Lisa Gordon signs with Iowa

Updated: May 21, 2012 6:40PM

Lisa Gordon was all set to go to college at Wisconsin until she received a phone call from an Iowa coach.

The coach wanted Gordon to take a visit to the school’s Iowa City campus. Iowa already has former Woodstock star Kayla Beattie on its roster as a freshman and a former Lyons teammate, Katherin Rehn, is a sophomore at Iowa. Both Rehn and Gordon are from Western Springs.

“It felt right,” Gordon said. “My mom [Barbara] graduated from Iowa and I have two cousins that went there.”

Even Gordon’s cross country coach, Stetson Steele, is an Iowa graduate.

She signed with the Hawkeyes two weeks ago to run cross country and track and field in the Big Ten next season. It will be a reunion with Rehm, who was a seven-time state qualifier in two sports while at Lyons.

One major factor, Gordon said. about changing her mind was being able to enroll in Iowa’s speech pathology program.

Gordon ended a memorable high school running career Saturday by competing in two events at the same Class 3A state meet for the first time. Gordon finished a career-best fourth (4:55.99) in the 1,600-meter run and was 12th (9:22.95) in the 3,200 relay with Kate Heinz, Randie Speir and Amy Bazzoni.

“Friday was the first time I have doubled at a state meet,” Gordon said. “It’s hard doubling. I ran four times in two days and I’ve never done that much. Before the 4-by-8, I was nervous. By the mile, I was calm and just ran it.”

Gordon said the wait between events Friday was two hours, but four hours on Saturday, which helped.

Her other top finishes in the state track meet were eighth in the 3,200 as a freshman and fifth in the 3,200 relay as a sophomore.
“I will always remember the relationships I’ve formed most,” Gordon said. “I will miss the relationship with coaches and my teammates.”

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