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Early Wednesday morning, Nixa’s Courtney Frerichs put the Ozarks on the world stage by winning an Olympic medal.
She ran 9:04.79 in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase to capture silver.
Back in Nixa, roughly 100 of her family and friends gathered to watch her compete.
“Everything from jumping, cheering, crying. I’ll admit, there were some tears,” said Courtney’s dad Scott. “It’s just so exciting.”
Courtney’s family and friends gathered, full of hope, that their Olympian could reach the podium.
When she had the lead entering the final lap, her mom Kathy had one thought in mind.
“Just clear the barriers. Just get over the barriers and stay with it,” she said.
With seven laps and 28 of those barriers in the rearview, Courtney came down the home stretch and crossed the line in silver medal position.
“Oh just awesome, she worked so hard and she has waited so long for this so we are so proud,” Kathy said.
It’s pride that extends throughout the Ozarks, matched by Courtney’s own pride of where she’s from.
“Even the other night during her preliminary race, she mentions the fact ‘hey I’m from Missouri, I’m used to this heat and humidity’,” Scott said. “She’s proud of that fact and everybody should be proud of the fact that she’s doing what she’s doing because they’re part of it, they really are.”
It’s exactly why the General Manager of Big Whiskey’s in Nixa, Greg Veach, and his staff arrived at 3:00 a.m. in preparation for the watch party.
“We love to do things for the community and be part of the community and watching Kathy and watching Courtney’s dad and her family and everybody just cheering her on was great and seeing her lead that race was awesome,” Veach said.
It’s a feeling shared by so many here in the Ozarks, including of course, Courtney’s husband, Griffin Humphreys.
“The emotions are coming together now. It’s been a little up and down since the race and during the race. I’m just excited to see her and give her a hug, and see that medal,” he said.
That medal is a symbol of hard work and dedication displayed on the world stage, some 6,000 miles from home.
