Knights freshman girls cross-country runner makes school history.

By Mike Miazga

Correspondent

IC Catholic Prep freshman girls cross-country standout Frankie Chaidez might need some help in the prognostication department—but in a good way.

Chaidez said she was striving for a top 25 finish at the recent Class 1A girls state finals meet in Peoria at Detweiller Park.

The end result? Try 22 places higher. Chaidez finished third in Class 1A and in the process became the first-ever IC Catholic Prep girls cross-country runner to finish that high.

“It was very unexpected,” said Chaidez, who ran a personal record at the state meet. “It feels amazing.”

Chaidez said her strategy in the meet was nothing out of the ordinary. “I didn’t have anything special,” she said. “I was consistent. I tried to stay with the top people while finishing strong at the last stretch.”

Chaidez recalled the final part of the race that included some jockeying for position. “I passed one person coming down the stretch (and was in second for a time). I started to sprint and passed one person and then I got passed from behind (and finished in third).”

The atmosphere and course at Detweiller met with Chaidez’s approval. “I liked it,” she said. “It was very flat. I liked the weather. It was cold and rainy. For me that’s when I’m at my best. It worked out for me.”

Chaidez said nerves did not factor into the equation, despite being on the biggest stage in the state as a freshman.

“I was not really nervous,’” she said.

Chaidez started running track and field in the fifth grade and started running cross-country in the seventh grade.

“My coach at the time (current IC Catholic Prep girls coach Dawn Calcagno) got me into it,” she said. “She wanted me to try out and I ended up liking it and stuck with it.”

Chaidez has a hard time putting into words why she likes the sport so much. “Running is like, it’s hard to explain,” she started. “I feel free when I run. You feel really peaceful. It’s a peaceful time and that’s why I love it. It’s a free time for me.”

Chaidez, who also played baseball (not softball) for 10 years, shot down the notion that quickness is one of her great attributes. “I guess I’m fast,” she said. “In track I started out as a sprinter. In fifth grade, that’s when I noticed I was good at running.”

Cross country, however, wasn’t the only sport keeping Chaidez busy this fall. She also played volleyball on the freshman team.

“I ran in the cross-country meets on Saturday and did a few during the week as well,” she said. “It’s kind of hard balancing both. Sometimes I would run in the morning and on days off I would run. I’d have volleyball right after school and school right after volleyball. I was busy but I enjoyed it. Any free time I had, I was doing running.”

As for the future, Chaidez, who is involved in a host of extra-curricular activities at IC Catholic Prep, already has her sights set on next year.

“This motivates me a lot for next season,” said Chaidez, who plans on running track in the spring for the Knights. “Finishing third tells me how much harder I need to work for next season and maybe I can get higher than third.”