Nine O-C Students Take On Girls On The Run 5K In O'Neill

Nine Clearwater-Orchard students participated in their first Girls on the Run 5K on Sunday in O’Neill.

Held at Ford Park, O’Neill was one of just four sites for the 5K in the state. The O’Neill 5K was open to those in Antelope, Boyd, Cedar, Holt and Wayne counties.

Shelly Mlnarik helped to start the local Girls On The Run (GOTR) program, which teaches life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games. The curriculum includes three parts - understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large.

“When I was approached about starting a GOTR Team at Clearwater-Orchard, I was all in because I felt it was a great opportunity for the young girls in our communities to be given tools to help them with all the added pressures that come up in todays society and girl issues,” Mlnarik said. “GOTR inspires girls to be in charge of their life, set goals. While doing this, running and healthy eating is integrated.”

Mlnarik said the group meets twice a week with the GOTR curriculum incorporating valuable life skills like teamwork, health and wellness, positivism, communication and goal setting. 

Four volunteers have been trained  to deliver the GOTR Curriculum - Heather Jackson, Tami Kuhfal, Kristen Kester and Mlnarik.

​Several mothers have also joined in to run with their daughter.