Why is the climax of "Raymond's Run" so important? What makes it such a valuable moment?

The climax of a story is the turning point when the rising action reaches a peak, the conflict is resolved, and the story goes into its falling action. The climax is important in Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “Raymond's Run” because it is a moment when Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker’s self-identity becomes clear. Hazel, who is known as Squeaky, realizes that Raymond has a future as a runner and she has a future as his coach. She completes her run, winning the annual May Day competition during which she notices Raymond matching her step for step. Gretchen, the new girl in the neighborhood, challenges her, which allows Squeaky to feel a new respect for her. The climax of the story finds Squeaky realizing her identity in a more mature way than at the beginning of the story when she copes with events with angst and antagonism. She also realizes that she can be friends with other girls instead of always being an adversary.