100 sports The QUEE NS Courier • OCTOBER 10, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com RUNNING FOR HEALTH GIRLS’ SOCCER DETERMINED FROM OVERWEIGHT TO MARATHON MAN BY LIAM LA GUERE lguerre@queenscourier.com Flipping through Facebook pictures one day in January 2011, Queens Village resident Joseph Gordon realized he was gaining too much weight. He had just started a job as an accountant after college and attributed his weight gain to lack of exercise and sitting at his desk “all day.” So that same day, he decided to start working out and joined a local Bally Total Fitness. Gordon is 6’2” and was 345 pounds then. Now he’s 255 pounds and gearing up to compete in his first ING New York City Marathon next month. “A lot of feelings are overwhelming me,” Gordon said. “But I’m just trying to keep my eyes on the prize.” The prize is completing a grueling 26.2- mile route that travels around the five boroughs and ends in Manhattan, which a few years ago would have seemed impossible for Gordon. When he started exercising, he had lighter workouts and started to change his diet. He began running at a friend’s suggestion and eventually entered a race. Gordon fell in love with the racing atmosphere and continued to enter and compete in various racing levels. “My whole perception of running changed from those couple of months,” Gordon said. To train for the marathon, Gordon started running 25 miles a week since July. He gradually increased his pace until it peaked at 40 miles a week. Gordon adjusted his diet as well. He eats five meals a day, mixing in two small meals with traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner. His meals are filled with lots of protein, fruits and vegetables. Gordon posts pictures of his meals and workouts on his Instagram account, @senor_gohard, to more than 2,000 followers. Some followers who have noticed him at races told Gordon that his training has inspired them. “It’s really interesting to hear, ‘You’ve motivated me to do this,’” Gordon said. “It makes you feel like what you say or don’t say could affect someone. It motivates me.” The furthest distance Gordon has ever run was 19 miles, a remarkable achievement, but a far cry from completing the city marathon. But no matter what, he’s determined to finish it, much like how he was determined to lose weight. “Even if I can’t run the whole thing, I want to be able to finish,” Gordon said. “Even if it takes five or six hours.” Photos courtesy of Joseph Gordon Joseph Gordon starting exercising to lose weight, but now is training to complete his first-ever ING New York City Marathon. Lady Commodores rout Forest Hills BY LIAM LA GUERE lguerre@queenscourier.com Many were worried when Bayside High School girls soccer star forward Danielle “D.J.” Glazer graduated last year. Glazer, who finished with the most goals in the city last season, 40, and the season before, 51, led the team to win back-to-back Queen A-IV titles. She was the recipient of the PSAL’s Wingate Award in girls’ soccer, which is given to the top senior in each sport, and her presence drove the Lady Commodores to the city quarterfinals and semifinals in 2012 and 2011 respectively. “She’s a great player,” said Bayside head coach Magdalini Kassimis. “She was our main goal scorer for the last threeand a-half years.” But even without Glazer, who is now playing for Marist College, the Lady Commodores are stronger than ever. Eleven games into the season the team is undefeated, 11-0-0, and far above Francis Lewis, 6-2-2, which is in second place in the redesigned Queens A-V conference. In their most recent game on October 8 the Lady Commodores dominated Forest Hills High School, although Mother Nature wasn’t too kind. The girls played through a torrential downpour, which was part of a tornado watch, but still routed Forest Hills, 5-1. “They played together the passed the ball open a lot and it came down to smart decisions,” Kassimis said. Although a main player like Glazer isn’t on team, the Lady Commodores have multiple players that have stepped up, and Kassimis attributes their strength to their chemistry on the field. Junior Alexa Trontz leads the team in goals, 15, which is good for 16th in the city and first in Queens A-V conference, and junior Kayla Triana is 14th in the city in assists, 11. Bayside also shines on the defensive side. Senior goalkeeper Ioulia Makris has saved 81 of 85 shots-on-goal, 95.2 percent, or 4th in the city. And the team has only allowed five goals for the season. “I knew that they had it in them, they’re very talented,” Kassimis said. Despite having very successful recent seasons the Lady Commodores have fell short in the playoffs to teams from other boroughs. The team is looking to turn that around this year, so Kassimis is hoping to use the remaining games to get ready. “We’ve played everybody already, but they’re still going to be competitive,” Kassimis said. “Right now we are getting into the mindset of we’ve got to finish strong and take care of business, but starting mentally and physically prepare for the playoffs.” THE COURIER/Photo Liam La Guerre Bayside High School girls soccer team is looking to have a special season despite losing their top goal scorer last year.
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