In 1999, Bill Clinton was in the White House, cell phones had antennae and were as big as bricks, and then Heights High senior Phoebe Springstubb ran a 5K race in 18 minutes and 47 seconds, setting a new high school record. We’ve had seven presidential elections since then and phones have gotten slightly more advanced, but that record remained untouched for 26 years.

That all changed last Saturday, when sophomore Kassadi Thompson placed third at the Greater Cleveland Conference Championship, running the 3.1 mile course in 18:44.

“It comes as no surprise that an athlete like Kass has broken the 5k school record that has stood for 26 years,” said head cross country coach Vanessa Parrino-Pleasant. “Her work ethic, commitment, and determination is unrivaled, pushing her to reach accomplishments that most sophomores wouldn’t even be thinking about.”

But Kassadi was thinking about it and has had this goal in mind her entire high school career. She started out the GCC race feeling strong and found herself running between two seniors, with the lead person drifting farther ahead after the 2-mile mark. She still believed she would run a personal best, but wasn’t sure this was the day she’d actually break the school record, until she reached the final 50 meters and could see the race clock in front of her. It was definitely the day, as she logged a twelve-second PR.

While she is enjoying this moment, Kassadi’s sights are set on even higher goals. She hopes to qualify for the State Championship next weekend and knock at least another ten seconds off her 5K time in Columbus. In order to advance, she has to place in the top twelve individuals not on a qualifying team at the Regional Championship race this coming Saturday. After missing the cut by one second as a freshman and currently ranked fifth overall in the region, she feels pretty confident.

So does Athletic Director Joe D’Amato who said, of the new record, “Hopefully, this is just a precursor to what the rest of the season holds for Kassadi. I think she's poised to achieve another huge accomplishment.”

Kassadi’s goals for herself include running a sub-18-minute 5K by the time she’s a senior. “I feel like I can definitely set a record by my senior year that will last at least another 26 years.”

Kassadi is also a top student at Heights High and part of a standout group of sophomore runners, who’ve achieved success at both the regional and state levels in cross country and track since middle school. As D’Amato said, “We've been hearing about her (and the other sophomore girls runners) since they were in 7th grade!”

Good luck to Kassadi and the other Heights High cross country runners as they compete at the Regional Championship on October 25.