When 17-year-old Chelsey Gerardi set the world record for her age group at the 2025 Firefighter Challenge World Championship, she did so in borrowed boots.

Gerardi is a part of the Lexington Fire Department Explorers, a program designed to help teens experience emergency services through ride-alongs and volunteer work. Since she doesn’t have her own gear, she borrowed a pair of boots to run the challenge course.

The daughter of a firefighter, Gerardi is no stranger to walking in established boot prints. She grew up watching her dad run into smoke, sprint up tower stairs, and hammer through the Firefighter Challenge course with everything he had.

“I started watching my dad when I was about seven years old,” she says. “He did it for five or six years. Watching him while I was growing up really inspired me to do it.”

Racing With Her Dad—Right into the Record Books

When Gerardi finally stepped onto the course, she did so next to her dad. Her father came out of retirement to run as her partner in a doubles race. When he passed the baton to her mid-race, it was more than just a teammate handoff—it was a hand-off to the next generation of firefighters.

“It was cool,” said Gerardi. “I know my dad really enjoyed it.”

Soon after, Gerardi ran her first full course in Erie, Pennsylvania and made history.

“That’s where I set the world record for my age group in the Explorer program,” she said.

And she didn’t stop there. At Nationals, she clocked a blazing 2:58, earning her the world champion title. For most competitors, that would be the pinnacle of their career. For Gerardi, it’s still just a part of her first steps as an Explorer.

Finding the Right Firefighter Boots: Airpower® XR1 Pro

As she trained harder and competed more often, Gerardi started searching for boots that could keep up.

“I’d been looking for boots that fit me well and that I could perform in,” she said. “I heard a lot of good things about HAIX from other competitors. They said they’re light and great for racing.”

This fall she made her love of HAIX official with a trip to the retail store in Lexington and a purchase of a pair of Airpower XR1 Pro boots. It was love at first step for Gerardi.

“When I tried them, they felt perfect.”

Looking Ahead: EMT School, Certification, and a Fire Service Future

Records and medals are exciting — but Gerardi has her eyes on a bigger horizon. She plans to start EMT school in March. When her classes conclude, she wants to apply for the fire service as soon as she turns 19.

“I’m really excited to get my certifications and apply,” she says. “And I’m definitely going to keep training. I still want to compete and do all the firefighter competitions coming up next year.”