By BY BRUCE HIXON – sports editor
It was not by design that Brewton resident Rebecca Jordan got into running, but it is no accident that she has become one of the better long distance runners in the country.
Jordan ran track and cross country in high school and again in college at Samford University.
Those races pale in comparison to what Jordan has done since college, where her conversion to runner has led to participation in 12 26-mile races, which are better known as marathons. Among her accomplishments are first-place finishes at Pensacola, Fla., and Tupelo, Miss. She also posted a second-place finish in a race at Baton Rogue, La., a third-place finish at the Georgia Trail Marathon and top 10 finishes at Mobile and the Kentucky Derby held at Louisville.
Jordan said the Georgia Trail Marathon was probably the toughest race.
Jordan hopes to soon qualify for the 50 States Club, and in her mind she already has.
Jordan runs about an average of 60 miles a week, but has run as much as 80 miles a week. She is currently running about 40 miles a week.
Jordan does most of her training on her own.
But the third-grade teacher wants to get young people involved in running, as well.
Jordan is hoping to initiate a running club for young girls in the area.
Brewton First Methodist Church minister Ed Glaize is working to help Jordan raise funds for the organization, she said.
Jordan knows something about getting support while running. Her husband, Kevin, an assistant football and baseball coach at W.S. Neal High School, attends as many races as he can and has been to most of her marathons..