Overcoming barriers, Frontier's Lillie Bogdan back on track for national championships

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Lillie Bogdan has long been one of the lead runners in New York, a multiple-time sectional champion and state titleholder in track and cross country. Yet this past winter, Bogdan could barely get out of bed, and returned to racing slower than she had been since taking up the sport in middle school.

Weakened by a case of mononucleosis, the Frontier Central High School senior kept belief that she could return to championship form. But it was a long road back. Now on graduation weekend, Bogdan will run a rare coast-to-coast double, competing in the 2000-meter at both the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon on Friday, then flying overnight to run in New Balance Nationals Outdoor Meet in Philadelphia.

After reclaiming her New York State Federation title in the steeplechase, Bogdan enters this weekend with the nation's best time of 6 minutes, 34.34 seconds.

"Having that ranking is a little nerve racking," said Bogdan, who has committed to run for Georgetown University. "But thinking about it knowing you're a force to be reckoned with. The biggest thing for me this season, after missing the indoor season being sick and not being myself mentally, was having that recovery and coming into this season trying to prove to people that I'm back. It definitely pushes me a lot more."

Bogdan became ill shortly after contending in the state cross country meet. She was out of school for two months, bed-ridden for most of that time.

"I felt fatigued every single day. I wasn't doing anything," she said. "Seeing my team compete without me was really sad. And watching people made me more humble to come back."

Once healthy enough, Bogdan began a gradual training program designed by her fellow older brother Cameron, who as an NCAA Regional qualifier in his sophomore season at Duquesne University, and Ed Mercado, who ran in the NCAA Division III Championships for Saint Elizabeth University. The trio has coached youth runners together in the Lake Effect Track Club.

"They sent me things over text message to keep in mind through the season and try to keep motivated," Bogdan said. "At the beginning it was hard for me because I wasn’t hitting the times that I was hitting in the past. My first time was the slowest I've run in my life, since eighth grade when I started. But over time all the progression and training really helped me get back into it."

Also running the 3,000 meters and on Frontier's 4x400 relay team, Bogdan's best event was not always her favorite.

"I remember when I was in eighth grade and I first ran the steeplechase I didn’t want to run it ever again," she said. "I felt that way every time I want over the barrier into the water." Over time, Bogdan came to "really enjoy going over the barriers. It's something to look forward to instead of running in circles all the time. Leaping into the water pit is something that’s unlike any other event. Those things really push me."

Bogdan's appreciation for the event grew as she formed bonds with other steeplechase runners in Western New York, including Angelina Napolean, who two years ago set a national record for her age group and this month placed third in the NCAA Championships running the 3,000-meter steeplechase for North Carolina State University.

"The reason I kept doing steeple was because of the community in Section VI," she said. "It’s a relatively new event. It’s nice to know that we’ve been able to do it together form the start."

Camaraderie with a competitor, Noelle Barlette, an Orchard Park graduate now running for Kentucky University, kept Bogdan interested in the sport after she collapsed from dehydration during a cross country sectional meet in her eighth grade year.

"I didn’t even want to come back to running cross country or track," Bogdan recalled. "I thought maybe this isn’t the right thing for me. I was doing dance and softball at the time."

Coming back from that experience taught Bogdan the importance of hydration and nutrition in sport performance and recovery. She plans to study nutrition at Georgetown to aide her coaching ambitions.

Recovery will be paramount this weekend as Bogdan runs the two biggest races of her scholastic career while traversing close to 3,000 miles in less than 24 hours.

"I'll definitely be prepared," Bogdan said with confidence. "But traveling will be interesting for me."