As a sixth grader, Pius X junior Katie Campos noticed a track and field practice and thought she might like to try that sport. She had done gymnastics and tried diving. After the first track practice, she told her dad, Rick ’85, that a coach said she could run on his track team. After the second practice, the coach told her mom, Dawn, that Katie’s times in practice would be competitive nationally.

“Who is this guy anyway?” Rick wondered. Soon after, he realized it was PJ Grosserode ’98. At that point, he had only heard of the Grosserode family and PJ, who ironically had broken Rick’s 200-meter school record.

Rick still holds the 100-meter record, and was joined in the record books this year by his daughter (who just finished her junior year) who now has two school records: 100- and 300-meter hurdles. She won the all class gold in the 300-meter hurdles, and the Class A gold in the 100-meter hurdles. View the Records

These accomplishments aren’t surprising to those that have watched Katie’s progress throughout middle and high school.

Since then, Katie has traveled around the country for competitions, running faster, sharpening her form, and lowering her sprint times, right up to the point of breaking the school records. At print time of this edition, she was competing for a spot on the U20 World Championship Team.

And it started with a recognition of talented athlete, and a coach who could help with a plan on how to capitalize on God’s gifts.

“(PJ) has been coaching her since she was in sixth grade, and he has had a vision and a plan and he’s good at what he does,” Rick said. “You have to have talent, but you also have to have a coach who understands it all.”