Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Former Northeast standout, state champ Gordon dies at 22
Former Northeast track star Daeshon Gordon died Sunday at the age of 22, according to her school, Northwestern State University.
The school did not release the cause of her death.
“Our hearts go out to Daeshon’s family, and to our track and field family, at this extremely difficult time,” said Greg Burke, NSU’s director of athletics, in a news release. “There are no words to express the feelings that so many have when a young life ends abruptly and much before its time.
Gordon was the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s 2014 Class 3A-4A girls track athlete of the year after winning Class 4A state titles in the 100 and 300 hurdles championships. Before attending and competing for Northeast, she attended Boyd Anderson.
In 2014, Gordon became the first female hurdler from Broward County to win both the 100- and 300-hurdles events in the state’s largest class in the same year.
After graduating from Northeast, Gordon ran track at LSU, where she twice earned All-American and All-Southeastern Conference honors.
Gordon transferred from LSU to Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La., before the 2017 indoor track season, according to NOLA.com.
“Even after Daeshon transferred I always loved to see her and encourage her! I will forever remember the strong hugs we shared each time we saw each other. RIP!” LSU track and field coach Dennis Shaver wrote on Twitter.
At Northwestern State, Gordon set school records in the 60- and 100-meter hurdles. She was named the 2017 Southland Conference Indoor Women’s Newcomer of the Year. She had completed her track career but remained in school to complete her degree, according to NOLA.com.
“Daeshon was a fierce competitor and a great teammate,” Burke said. “I cherished the connection that she and I had that grew even stronger after she completed her eligibility in June and told me she was determined to be the first female member of her family to earn a college degree. I ask that the NSU Demon family keep Daeshon’s family and our track and field program in their thoughts and prayers.”