At the start of each high school cross country season, incoming 8th graders must adjust from traditional middle school training and races to the rigor of high school XC.
This transition can be difficult for many runners, with the distance almost doubling from the previous season. Still, freshmen Annie Czajkowski of Norwin High School set higher expectations for her first high school cross-country season. Annie believes her success is due to the excellent coaching staff, teammates, and family atmosphere at Norwin High School. Annie described the experience as "a very large transition." She cited "a huge increase in mileage, better workouts for training, and a great team atmosphere as everyone puts the team in front of themselves."
Being a freshman doesn't bother Annie at all. It motivates her to know she has to race upperclassmen with more experience and races under their belt. "It makes me want to work because I am very competitive, " said Annie. "I look up to them and want to beat them, which pushes me further."
Annie's first high school race didn't go as planned, but she was able to use it as a learning experience to guide her over the remainder of the season. At the Marty Uher Invitational in September, Annie was in the top 15 with less than 600 yards to go and collapsed. "I blacked out and didn't finish the race. I pushed myself to the point where it did not end well. It was an eye-opening experience running in my first 5k race," she said.
Two weeks later, she placed second at the Blue Devil Invitational with a personal best of 18:58. Norwin head cross-country coach Brian Fleckenstein believes Annie is an exceptional runner with a lot of potential for a successful cross-country career.
"Annie is a competitor. She comes out to compete, and she has that innate desire to push herself and be comfortable being uncomfortable" said Fleckenstein, "I like how she's kept all that middle school competitiveness and has matured as a racer and grown in confidence."
When asked to describe Annie using one word, Coach Fleckenstein said "Fearless."
With the WPIAL XC Finals less than two weeks away, Annie has some personal and team goals that she would like to achieve on the PennWest California course on October 27th. "I would like to be in the top 15, run under 18:30, and it's the team's dream to make states this year. That pushes us all to run well at practice and meets."
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Athlete Profile
Favorite Course: Buhl Park 5k
Cross Country Personal Best: 18:57 (Blue Devil XC Invitational)
9th fastest Freshman - Pennsylvania time
2022 Blue Devil XC Invitational 2nd place
2021 WAASA, Bald Eagle, and Marty Uher Middle School Invite l XC 1st place
2021 Middle School XC National Qualifier
Q&A with Annie Czajkowski
Do you have a favorite pump-up/hype song?
"Downtown" by Macklemore
What drives you to get up in the morning and go train every day?
Knowing that my competitors are putting in the time and effort to get better. I will not be out worked.
What is the best advice you ever got and who gave it?
My grandpa would always tell me pain doesn't hurt, and that advice pushes me during every race I ever run.
What is your favorite sports quote?
I didn't come this far to only come this far.
Which strengths do you have that make you a great athlete?
I'm an all-in runner. I give everything to this sport, and it pushes me further every day.
Which coach on the Norwin staff would win in a 5k race if they were all currently freshmen in high school?
Coach Fleckstein he was a very good runner in high school and would win easily.
Is there a current WPIAL runner who brings out the best in you ?
Teammate - Rosemary Gaydos I look up to her.
At the start of each high school cross country season, incoming 8th graders must adjust from traditional middle school training and races to the rigor of high school XC.
This transition can be difficult for many runners, with the distance almost doubling from the previous season. Still, freshmen Annie Czajkowski of Norwin High School set higher expectations for her first high school cross-country season. Annie believes her success is due to the excellent coaching staff, teammates, and family atmosphere at Norwin High School. Annie described the experience as "a very large transition." She cited "a huge increase in mileage, better workouts for training, and a great team atmosphere as everyone puts the team in front of themselves."
Being a freshman doesn't bother Annie at all. It motivates her to know she has to race upperclassmen with more experience and races under their belt. "It makes me want to work because I am very competitive, " said Annie. "I look up to them and want to beat them, which pushes me further."
