Kasi Grosserode Wins Gold, Sets School Record At CC Meet

In her first year of cross country, Kasi Grosserode has run the fastest 5,000 meter time in school history. And it was just the second meet of the season.

Grosserode, a sophomore at Neligh-Oakdale, won the Boyd County Cross Country Invite at Butte on Thursday with her record-setting time of 20:32.

Coach Rick Eickholt said Grosserode joins a "very elite group for Neligh-Oakdale cross country athletes" by capturing the championship medal.  

"She joins a group that includes only three other  athletes, Tyler Pedersen, Jamie Helgren, and Courtney Pellatz," he said.  

Other girls earning medals were Jayda Chance, 8th; and Brittany McConnell, 18th.

"Both runners improved their race efforts from earlier in the week at Niobrara," Eickholt said. "With all of the great things that happened, the girl’s team received a devastating piece of news when they found out that senior captain Courtney Pellatz has been diagnosed with an injury that could potentially end her running career."

For the boys, Michael Peinke earned 4th place with a 17:46, the fourth fastest 5,000 meter time in school history. 

"In addition to Michael’s personal best, Connor Knievel captured the 18th place medal, while Jordan Chelle was 23rd with both individuals also setting personal bests," he said.

Junior High

Eighth grader Haley Kerkman also broke a school record at the meet with her 2,500-meter time of 10:09, which earned her second place - just 3 seconds behind the champion. Kerkman's time set the Neligh-Oakdale's junior high record for the course. 

"For the third straight race, Haley’s time was the fastest ever turned in by N-O JH runner on this course," Eickholt said.

Madi Grosserode was the other junior high medalist with a sixth place finish in a time of 10:25. Also competing for the Warriors were Jordan Knievel 13th, Emma Bixler 14th, Natasha Peinke 15th, Haley Bixler 19th, and Nadia Peinka 20th.

The next meet, the Neligh-Oakdale Invitational, will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Antelope County Country Club on Monday.