PINETOWN — The track and field season begins with the cool, crisp air of a fading winter and ends under the bright sky of a blossoming summer. But you would never know that if you were at Northside High School, where it’s been Summer time since Day One.
After a breakout junior season in which Summer Cordon placed first in the NCHSAA 1-A East Regional in the 100-meter hurdles and second in the long and triple jumps, Cordon has taken the next the step and turned in a senior season for the ages.
At last week’s Four Rivers Conference championship meet Cordon blew away the competition, taking first place in the 100-meter hurdles, long jump, triple jump and high jump and was named the conference’s Most Outstanding Female Athlete.
The performance drew high praise for Northside’s first-year coach Suzanne Lee, a former standout three-sport star for the Panthers and winner of the Washington Daily News Female Athlete of the Year.
“I’m very proud of Summer Cordon and what she has accomplished this season. She has qualifying times/distances for regionals in all four of her events. She excels in all that she does in track and field,” Lee said. “Summer is well deserved of receiving (the top athlete honor) in all aspects of being an athlete: dedication, hard work, respect, leadership, talent and skill. She has it all.”
Though she excels at all her events, Cordon’s favorite is the 100-meter hurdles because it allows her best to take advantage of all her abilities.
“The 100-meter hurdles in my favorite,” Cordon said. “I like to run and jump and that combines both.”
So far this season Cordon has legged out a 15.9 in the 100-meter hurdles, soared 16’11” in the long jump, risen 4’8” in the high jump and covered 33’6” in the triple jump to head into this year’s East regional on fire.
“She’s just a natural athlete,” Lee said. “She can jump, she can sprint and anything that she does she’s going to be good at.”
For the most part, track and field is a very individualistic sport, but that has not stopped Cordon from being a good teammate.
“She’s showed a lot of leadership on the team. She’ll circle them up and get them stretching and she took that role without me saying anything to her,” Lee said. “Summer has been a leader for our team by helping coach the rookies this year, passing down her expertise in her events. She’s just a great athlete with a lot of heart.”
She’s also a great athlete with a lot of motivation, which figures to be a powerful mix as the track and field postseason continues.
After her explosive performance at the regional meet last season, Cordon limped into the state meet battling shin splints and a hip injury. Those afflictions provided a sour ending to an otherwise splendid season.
“At state I had a bad injury near the end so I didn’t do too well,” Cordon said. “It would be awesome to get to go back and somehow place.”
Lee said the potential is there.
“I expect her to go out and place at regionals,” Lee said. “As for state, I know she has it in her. If she has a good day and things go well she can definitely place at state.”