Table sorter plugin not properly sorting Distance column (ie: 17 Miles)

Table sorter plugin not properly sorting Distance column (ie: 17 Miles)

I'm using the tableshorter plugin on a table which lists multiple
locations, and that contains a "Distance" column which displays
distances in the format of "17 Miles" and "5 miles", etc.
I have the following javascript in my head section, which defines the
sort order of the 1 column that I want to have sortable (and that
specifies which columns I do not want to make sortable):
    <script type="text/javascript">
        $(document).ready(function() {
            $("#locationsTable").tablesorter( {sortList: [[1,0]],
            headers: {
            0: { sorter: false },
            2: { sorter: false },
            3: { sorter: false }
                    }
                }
            );
        });
    </script>
I'm finding that I am not able to properly sort the distance column
when I include the word "Miles" in that table cell. It's only when I
remove the word "Miles" from the table cell that the column sorts
properly.
How can I fix this?
Thanks,
- Yvan
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