CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio - Junior Kassadi Thompson set a school record of 17:59 and finished third for Cleveland Heights High School at the State Cross Country Meet on Saturday, Nov. 7, in Obetz, Ohio. The placing was the best by a female runner in school history.

Thompson established a position with the front pack early, staying on the leading runner’s shoulder rather than allowing a gap to develop. The approach kept Thompson near the front through the opening two miles, with a plan to use sustained pace over the final mile to separate from the runners behind.

About six runners remained in the lead group at the two-mile mark. Thompson began pulling away from most of that group while maintaining the same pace at the second mile. That strength carried Thompson through the final hill, which left roughly 800 meters to race, and into the closing stretch in contention for a top-three finish.

With 100 meters remaining, Thompson held second place, about eight seconds behind the leader, with three runners close behind. Thompson sprinted to the finish and held off all but one of those challengers to secure third. The 17:59 finish also established a personal record, adding a new time standard to the historic placing.

The state performance capped a season that included four first-place finishes and eight top-six finishes for Thompson. The Cleveland Heights junior also concluded the season as the GCC individual champion.