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Abby Chestovich leading the chase pack after the first 1K.

Abby Chestovich runs on to State Meet

By Chris Babcock, 10/28/21, 8:15AM CDT

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On Wednesday, October 27, the Raiders ran in the section 4AAA meet to great success led by eighth grader Abby Chestovich. Throwing out her usual strategy of a reserved start and dogged determination to climb through the pack, Chestovich joined the chase pack behind the eventual leader. She shared the lead of that pack for half the race with senior and junior girls with years of experience over her. Undaunted as that pack fell apart through the two-mile and over the last third of the race Chestovich continued to rely on her strength over those final kilometers. In the end she was passed by one other girl down the finish stretch, but finished in 9th place overall and the third individual qualifier for the state meet from section 4AAA. Chestovich ran the 5k course in 20:11, a 57 second personal best over the wind swept and hilly course at the Highland International golf course in St. Paul, MN.

After the race, Chestovich admitted that it was not an easy race; that at one point in the race she felt like stopping. But she persisted, climbed the hill in front her on the course and the mental hill  of wanting to give up.  Knowing that she is able to push through and succeed will give her great momentum going forward as she prepares to run at St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN on Saturday, November 6 at 9:30 AM.