Jesuit product Schilit selected for Maccabiah Games

Posted Jun 29, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Jun 29, 2012 at 12:46 AM

Former Jesuit High standout distance runner Jordan Schilit, now preparing to enter his senior year at Haverford College near Philadelphia, has been selected to represent the United States at the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2013.

The Maccabiah Games are often referred to as the “Jewish Olympics.” They are staged every four years in Israel and attract some of the most outstanding Jewish athletes from around the world.

The 19th Maccabiah Games are scheduled to be held July 17-30, 2013. The most recent games attracted more than 7,000 athletes from 50-plus nations, making it the third largest sports event in the world, organizers say.

One of the area’s other participants in the Maccabiah Games is former South Florida star and 1996 U.S. Olympic Marathon trials qualifier Dror Vaknin, who is now coaching at the University of Tampa. Vaknin captured gold medals in the 10,000-meter run and half marathon.

Schilit, who was the NCAA Division III national runner-up in the 10,000 this year, says he will be competing in the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 at the Maccabiah Games’ most competitive category, the open division.

The U.S. committee for Maccabiah selects 3 athletes per event, with qualification based on personal bests. Schilit recently clocked 13:59.21 for the 10,000 and has earned four all-America titles at Haverford, where this fall he returns as the Fords’ No. 1 man on the cross country squad.