2013: Ran in seven races ... Competed at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships and posted a season-best 6K time of 21:50.4, placing fourth for the Wildcats and 70th in all competition (Nov. 15) ... Achieved a season-best 5K time of 18:25.8 at the Notre Dame Invitational, finishing fifth on the team and 96th overall (Oct. 4) ... Academic All-Big Ten and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honoree.
2012: Ran in five meets ... Recorded a season-best 5K time of 18:08, good for third place overall at the Northern Illinois Open (Nov. 2) ... Cut nearly 90 seconds off her time between her first and second 6K events of the year, posting a season-best 6K time of 21:33 at the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational ... Also competed at season-opening Huskie Open (18:37) and the Loyola Lakefront Invitational (18:41) ... Academic All-Big Ten.
2011: Competed in six events, recording a season-best 5K time of 18:35 at the Illini Open (Oct. 21) ... Led all Northwestern runners in the B division of the Notre Dame Invitational with a 5K time of 18:40 ... Ran a time of 22:35 in her only 6K event of the year, the Wisconsin Invite (Oct. 14) ... Academic All-Big Ten.
2010: Participated in five meets as a freshman ... Recorded a season-best 5K time of 18:29 at the Loyola Lakefront Invite, finishing fourth among Wildcats as the team took first ... Also finished fifth for team and 67th overall in the Big Ten Championships with a time of 22:12 (6K).
High School: Three-time all-state selection in cross country with a seventh-place showing at the state meet as a senior ... Two-time sectional and conference champion and ISL Runner of the Year honoree ... Won three conference and sectional 3,200-meter championships in track ... Owns personal-best times of 18:06 in cross country and 11:20 in the 3,200 ... 2010 ISL Athlete of the Year and Latin Senior Athlete of the Year ... Two-sport captain ... Cross country team won regional and conference championships during her career while track team won conference in 2009 and 2010 ... National Merit Scholar semifinalist.
Personal: Born Julia Ayn Buford ... Daughter of Robert Buford and Letitia Noel ... Chose Northwestern over Washington University in St. Louis and Emory ... Majoring in civil engineering.