Runner’s High
Sophomore Evan Caudy finishes in first at GNAC cross country
Evan Caudy runs across the finish line at the GNAC cross country meet in North Platte on Oct. 11, 2019.
October 29, 20194 Views
Running the mile in gym class changed Sophomore Evan Caudy’s life forever.
Starting out his freshman year, he had never done a school running sport. The only sports he did his freshman year was basketball in the winter, and football in the fall. He started football season playing the cornerback position. By the end of the season, he played linebacker and cornerback. “I don’t regret doing football my freshman year, because football has always been a big part of my life.”
2019 GNAC XC Stats
JV Girls
Emily Evans (senior) – 10th place – 24:43.57
Audrey Eisenrich (sophomore) – 14th place – 25:34.32*
Kaitlyn Evans (sophomore) – 16th place – 25:39.43*
JV Boys
Quade Lowe (Grade 09) – 2nd place – 18:21.67*
Trenton Golter (Grade 11) – 4th place – 18:41.46*
Ainsley Schroeder (Grade 10) – 5th place – 18:43.46*
Benjamin Steele (Grade 11) – 6th place – 18:47.12*
Varsity Girls
Zarah Blaesi (Grade 09) – 3rd place – 19:59.81*
Baylee Evarts (Grade 11) – 19th place – 22:15.00*
Alexis Hoatson (Grade 10) – 25th place – 22:36.45
Varsity Boys
Evan Caudy (Grade 10) – 1st place – 16:22.93*
Joel Bradley (Grade 12) – 3rd place – 17:03.90
Tayler Kleinow (Grade 12) – 8th place – 17:22.35*
*denotes a set personal record at Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference Cross Country meet
However, Caudy thinks he’s a better runner than football player. He ran a 5:24 in gym class that day and ever since he’s been pushing down every giant in his way. It was the final test run in gym. “I just thought about running it and proving to myself what I could do,” said Caudy. “I started thinking about doing track after that, but it wasn’t a definite decision until the end of basketball season.”
He made varsity track and field in the spring of his freshman year and by the end of the season he had a 4:41.27 mile, and a 9:56.83 two mile. “The team told me they would break my knees if I didn’t do cross country the following season,” said Caudy.
Now, he runs for the varsity cross country team at North Platte High School as well. “The guys I ran track with influenced me to do cross country and they always have influenced me to do better,” said Caudy.
So far this season, he has run seven meets and won five of them. He triumphed in Cozad, Kearney, McCook, Grand Island and in North Platte at the Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference cross country meet.
Running a 16:22.93 at the GNAC meet, he ran across the finish and placed first again and also broke his last personal record. The varsity boys placed second at GNAC by one point. “It always feels great to win, but obviously I’d feel better if our team won and it always hurts losing,” said Caudy.
On Oct. 17th, 2019, he ran in the District A-1 Championships. He placed 3rd, and finished among the top runners in the district. “I was proud of how I placed, but I was a little disappointed because I felt like I could’ve done more, but overall I was proud of myself,” said Caudy.
On Oct. 25th, 2019, Caudy is among the select few who will be traveling to Kearney, NE to compete in the state cross country meet. The entire boys varsity team, and varsity girls runner Zarah Blaesi all qualified for the State meet.
