By Andy Loigu

She did it again.

Exceeding her personal best time by eight seconds, Wisconsin bound Warren Hills senior Alexa Westley ran the race of her life on Saturday at Northern Burlington and became the first three-time New Jersey Meet of Champions winner in the girls 3,200 meter race since 2001.

After finishing second at both the sectional and Group Three meets in recent weeks to West Morris junior Julia Trethaway, Westley said that being regarded an underdog got her fired up.

In the Rocky III movie, Rocky Balboa lost the heavyweight title to Clubber Lang (played by Mr. T) and needed to rediscover “the eye of the tiger” to win a big rematch and gain back the championship. In a display of life imitating art, Westley said she gained confidence and inspiration from a favorite quote which said, “running teaches us that we are capable of so much more than we ever imagined.”

When her big race came on Saturday, in sunny and mild conditions, Westley pulled away from Trethaway in the final lap and won by 15 seconds, showing an extraordinary finishing kick. Her championship winning time of 10:15.82 was the fastest in the event since Sarah DiSanza of High Point broke the tape in 10:15.02 at the 2013 MOC in South Plainfield.

Westley came into Saturday’s championship race fully cognizant of what had gone on in the girls 3,200 over the years and the place in history which she had the opportunity to gain. The last three-time winner was Erin Donohue of Haddonfield in 1998, 2000, and 2001. The last female runner to win in three consecutive years was Monal Chokshi of Bridgewater-Raritan in 1991-92-93. “It was before I was even born,” she said, adding, “I have to run a perfect race.”

She did just that. Congratulations!

By the way, Westley was a two-sport athlete at Warren Hills. She also played on the Blue Streaks’ girls basketball team which won Skyland Conference and Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex championships last winter.

…Elvis has left the building…..