Norwin runner finds perfect pace, shows plenty of potential

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 7, 2023 | 11:01 AM

While she used to come out sprinting at the start of a cross country race, Annie Czajkowski is more methodical now, pacing herself before a late push to pass.

“I used to have nothing left at the end,” she said.

Serenity is also part of the plan.

A sophomore at Norwin who has the potential to be one of the program’s elite runners, Czajkowski said more rest and the stress-relieving sounds of worship music keep her calm before she treks 3.1 miles into the woods, over hills and unkempt terrain.

“Music is where I find my peace,” Czajkowski said. “I don’t need to get all pumped up to run. I need to calm down.”

Czajkowski has been finding her center more this season as she brushes by fellow runners.

“As a coach, you try not to get too excited about a freshman,” Norwin coach Brian Fleckenstein said. “You don’t know if they’re going to stay with it and fall in love with running. But Annie trains hard and she has stepped up her training. She competes in track.”

Czajkowski recently won her first race at the prep level, taking the Blue Devil Invitational in Sharpsville in an impressive time of 18 minutes, 10 seconds.

Her time was the fastest at the event since 2008 and improved her personal record by 46 seconds.

It is the second-fastest 5K in Norwin girls history.

She also helped Norwin win the team title.

“It comes down to, do you have the mentality to do what it takes to hurt and get through that hurt,” Fleckenstein said. “You see things in Annie you don’t see in other runners.”

Czajkowski also set a record on Hempfield’s home course during a dual meet at 20:06.

“I expected to be much stronger this year,” she said. “My freshman year I kind of ran for fun. I put in so much hard work and my self-confidence grew.”

Earlier in the season, Czajkowski took 12th at the Red, White and Blue Invitational at White Oak Park (18:56) and the team placed third with the top five runners averaging 19:55.

Czajkowski tries not to put pressure on herself or too much stock in any particular run. That day’s race is just that: There is more to come.

“When I am on the line, I know it’s not my last race,” she said. “I have learned there is a lot more to it than the racing.”

The WPIAL Class 3A championship race will be Oct. 26 at White Oak Park.

Czajkowski hopes to improve on her 21st-place finish from last year (20:11.05) at Cal (Pa.).

She is glad the meet moves to White Oak.

“I have a bad history at Cal,” she said. “My first race there, I passed out. They said I was dehydrated because I was overhydrated. I used up all of my electrolytes. I don’t want to go back there.”

Like any competitive runner, Czajkowski trains constantly. Forty miles a week is the average, and that doesn’t always include the time she spends running on her own.

“It’s relaxing just to practice by myself,” she said. “Sometimes I go to Indian Lake near my house.”

Norwin’s girls have a chance to compete for a WPIAL team title, although North Allegheny is the favorite.

“I want our team to go to states,” Czajkowski said. “We have three seniors and I want to seem them all make it.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin