Chmiel, Kurto Return For Freihofer's 5K Personal Bests


As has been tradition for the past two years, Saratoga stalwarts returned to the roads just days after State Quals, and this time, they brought home big personal bests.  Running in the World Famous Freihofer's 5K For Women, Kelsey Chmiel clocked a nearly ten second personal best, achieving her top-finish-ever.  Chmiel took 9th in 2017 with a 14:41, and 10th last year in 14:44.  The NC State commit ran to a 16:33 in 2019, placing 5th overall.  It's believed to be the highest finish ever for a High Schooler.

Closing out the Top Ten was Chmiel's freshman teammate, Ella Kurto.  The pair are coming off a qualifying run at the Section 2 State Qualifier, where they also qualified in the 4x800m.  Kurto looks to lead the Saratoga Cross Country team next year, as Chmiel graduates.  Two spots back was also McKinley Wheeler, one half of a set of twins that aided the Blue Streaks to their first XC State Title in over a decade.

PlaceTimeFirst NameLast NameAgeTownState
116:03ElainaTabb27WatertownMA
216:06DianeNukuri34FlagstaffAZ
316:09MaddieVan Beek27FargoND
416:24KatieNewton28BelmontMA
516:33KelseyChmiel17Greenfield CenterNY
616:34KayleeFlanagan24LouisvilleCO
716:39HannahReinhardt21ClarenceNY
816:55MeghanPeyton33Saint PaulMN
917:05LindseyScherf32High FallsNY
1017:15EllaKurto14Ballston SpaNY
1117:22JenniferRhines44San DiegoCA
1217:59McKinleyWheeler14Greenfield CenterNY
1318:00MelodyFairchild45LyonsCO
1418:06KarenBertasso34AlbanyNY
1518:16DanaBush40Saratoga SpringsNY