It was while she was in the sixth grade that Liz Sullivan caught the running bug; an interest she picked up from her mother, Jean. “It was then that I started running with my mom,’’ Sullivan said. Indeed, Jean ran distances while in high school at the former Our Lady of Fatima school in Warren. She also ran while attending Northeastern.
Liz Sullivan obviously comes from good running genes. In only her second year of prep competition, she has been the virtual face of Patriot girls’ distance running. At Saturday’s Class B Championship, Sullivan finished a strong third to a pair of the league’ top talents: South Kingstown’s Ellie Lawler and Randi Burr, of Westerly.
“I’ve improved my times; they’ve come down,’’ said Sullivan, who also runs indoor and outdoor track. “I enjoy cross country best because with each meet I’ve become more confident. Teams are smaller, and [teammates] can improve together. I think I’m ready for the competition; it’s really intense.’’
And the sophomore is not unaware of Portsmouth High cross country All-American Laura Turner (Class of ’98). “I saw her name on our record board at school, and my coach told me about her records,’’ Sullivan said.