Jordan Chester makes it look easy.
Even after completing her leg of the 3,200-meter run, and the 1,600, 800 and 3,200 races, the Boone Grove freshman could run another race without needing any oxygen.
Boone Grove coach Candy Wilson said Chester goes nonstop, like the Energizer Bunny.
"I've had athletes in the past who have had that type of energy, but it's almost effortless for her," Wilson said. "She pops back pretty good and is ready to go. She's amazing. She goes from one race to the next. She recovers fast. Her pulse comes back fast and that's very important."
Chester not only has plenty of fuel left in her tank after a full day of racing, but is the ultimate competitor as well.
After finishing 16th at the state cross country meet last fall, Chester was brokenhearted upon learning only the top 15 finishers earned a medal and not the top 25.
Even though she usually competes in four events, Chester will concentrate on the 1,600 and 3,200 runs at the Kankakee Valley Sectional today. She's the top seed in both events.
"It took a lot of energy to do four events," Chester said. "I think by not running my leg of the 3,200 relay and the 800, I can go even faster in the two mile."
Chester's best two-mile time is 11:55. Her best effort in the mile, which she believes is her best event, is 5:24.
While she hasn't been pushed much at all this spring, she's expecting to be challenged at least a little bit more today in the sectional than she was during Porter County Conference meets.
"A lot of times, there's good competition in the PCC, but there's other competition out there that's a little bit better," Chester said. "I wish I could get that better competition a little bit more often throughout the year, because it would definitely help me out."
Because of the lack of challenges she's faced, Chester is a little leery of the competition she could face today because she's not really used to it.
"I think she's ready for a race," Wolves' distance coach Lori Flesvig said. "I think she's ready for a race and will make it to state. She hasn't really had anybody even close to her yet."
Even Chester's dog, Sport, a lab, gets a workout running with her.
"We run a lot together, especially in the summer, and it's fun," Chester said. "I'm always looking for a challenge -- like trying to beat my dog in a race. It's good competition for me because even if I'm riding my bike, he'll push the pace. When we run, he keeps me going faster."
Chester, who also plays basketball for Wilson as well as soccer, has a work ethic beyond comparison.
"She works hard the entire time she's at practice," Wilson said. "I always enjoy the kids who push themselves harder than you can push them. And she's definitely harder on herself than we could ever be on her."
