2017 TheRealTrain XC Runner of the Year - Rusty Kujdych

This weekend, Neshaminy Senior Rusty Kujdych will compete at Footlocker Nationals, officially ending the XC season for the state of Pennsylvania. Rusty has been dominant in 2017 and, regardless of what happens in California, will end the season as the #1 ranked guy on my Top 50 list. As we get ready to support Kujdych’s run at the national championships, let’s take a look back at this impressive campaign he has put together to date.

9/9/2017 – PTXC Invitational

After a strong junior season, Rusty started the year determined to prove himself. He raced at the PTXC Invitational for the first time and faced off against an all-time great Loudon Valley squad. He finished 5^th in the final standings with a time of 15:55, only trailing four of the aforementioned Loudon Valley boys. For the record, that Loudon Valley team is coming off a National Championship at NXN with the lowest boys team score in meet history.

Kujdych was the top PA runner by 8 seconds over Wallenpaupack’s Tyler Wirth. His time of 15:55 is 5^th fastest in PA on the Farm Spring lay out (in place since 2011). Here’s how he stacks up on the all-time list.

1. Abert 15:21 (2014)

2. Deluca 15:43 (2013)

3. Groh 15:48 (2013)

4. Hockenbury 15:53 (2015)

5. Kujdych 15:55 (2017)

9/16/2017 – Briarwood Invitational

Kujdych trekked to the historic Belmont Plateau for a little vengeance on the course. He was narrowly defeated there a season ago by top miler Liam Galligan, but this time he made sure to leave with a victory. In one of his most dominant performances of the season, Kujdych dropped a 15:51 to win by 28 seconds over league rival Ryan Campbell. His time of 15:51 moved him into a tie for 6^th on the course’s All-Time list since 2010 compared to other PA runners. Here’s that list:

1. Jax Hoey 15:30 (2014)

T-2. Brophy 15:39 (2014)

T-2. D Wilson 15:39 (2011)

T-4. Shearn 15:41 (2012)

T-4. Russell 15:41 (2012)

T-6. K James 15:51 (2014)

T-6. R Wilson 15:51 (2013)

T-6. Kujdych 15:51 (2017)

9/23/2017 – Foundation Invitational

After a grueling grind through Belmont, Rusty went to the Foundation Invite for the first time in his career to get some extra experience on the course. After a relatively conservative start, Kujdych blasted open the race in the second half by throwing down a 16:14. His time was the fastest in the gold race by 13 seconds and the second fastest of the day (behind Isaac Davis’s 16:01 in AA). The Foundation course has changed slightly since its original inception, but Rusty’s time is the 4^th fastest over the past two seasons for this meet.

1. R James 15:58 (2016)

2. Davis 16:01 (2017)

3. McMenamin 16:03 (2016)

4. Kujdych 16:14 (2017)

9/29/2017 – Paul Short Invitational

Now get this. Rusty just raced the three biggest invites available to him for three straight weeks. He ran on two of the toughest courses I’ve ever been on (PTXC doesn’t look like it’s much of a pancake either) and then he had to journey to Lehigh with only 6 days rest and try and best arguably the best field of the season outside states. In a hard fought battle with out of stater Dalton Hengst, Kujdych took 2^nd overall and dropped a time of 15:01. His mark was the best PA high school time by 7 seconds over future national qualifier Liam Conway. In the history of the Paul Short meet, here’s how Rusty stacks up compared to the other PA guys:

1. Abert 14:55 (2014)

2. Kujdych 15:01 (2017)

10/14/2017 – Manhattan Invitational

After a brief rest, Kujdych was right back to racing the marquee invite. This time, he went out of state to New York and raced against the best competition from the Northeast Region. In a potential preview for Footlocker Regionals, Kujdych ran to 4^th overall in the Championship section with a time of 12:24.1 His mark made him 3^rd on the PA all-time list for this meet and he was some 23 seconds ahead of the next best PA runner in the field (Josh Hoey of Shanahan). Only regional champs Noah Affolder and Tony Russell ran faster than Rusty while wearing a PA uniform.

1. Noah Affolder 12:10.6 (2016)

2. Tony Russell 12:20.0 (2013)

3. Rusty Kujdych 12:24.1 (2017)

10/20/2017 – SOL National & 10/27/2017

Now we dive into championship season. Rusty entered his two meets at Lehigh as the defending champion (and a heavy favorite to repeat). No PA runner had topped him to date, but he would have to face three of his closest challengers over the next two weeks, including Ryan Campbell twice in a row.

First, Kujdych won the National League championship with a time of 15:27. This ranked him #1 all-time in the National League at the Lehigh course. He now has the top 2 marks for his league on the course and trails Brophy, Comber and Miles across all suburban one leagues.

At Districts, Kujdych went head to head with Josh Hoey. The sub 1:50 800 runner was a bit fresher after missing the Ches-mont championships. On the final stretch, Hoey had a change to steal the district title, but Rusty was able to fight him off by a single second en route to a 15:11 final time on the course. Rusty’s district time was the 8^th best District time since 2006 and 3^rd fastest since 2009 behind only Tony Russell and Jake Brophy. Here’s the district list:

Paul Springer 14:47 (2006)

Jason Weller 14:54 (2006)

Tony Russell 14:59 (2013)

Chris Aldrich 15:02 (2007)

Mark Dennin 15:06 (2007)

Ben Furcht 15:08 (2008)

Jake Brophy 15:09 (2015)

Rusty Kujdych 15:11 (2017)

Tony Russell 15:11 (2012)

Jake Brophy 15:11 (2014)

11/4/2017 – PIAA State Championships

After a narrow victory at districts, it seemed like Kujdych might be vulnerable for his first loss against a PA competitor. Noah Beveridge from the Western part of the state was absolutely rolling and had the confidence of being the #1 returner in the state. On top of that, Rusty had finished just 10^th in the state a year earlier, losing to a few guys he had defeated at Districts a week earlier. Considering this year’s district championship was arguably deeper, some people were ready to call for an upset.

But Rusty silenced all the doubters. Despite a rigorous early schedule, Rusty proved that he was not tired, but instead battle tested. Beveridge gave him a great run, but over the final mile Kujdych was not to be denied. He turned on the jets to run 15:47 and take state gold by 10 seconds. Kujdych only trails Noah Affolder on the new state course lay out all-time list.

11/25/2017 – Footlocker Northeast

With state and district golds in pocket, Kujdych entered the Footlocker Regional meet as our best hope for a national qualifying spot. However, the Neshaminy senior had yet to race the regional meet before. This would be a new experience and a long stretch of extra training would not be easy. But Rusty stayed focused and delivered with the pressure on yet again, becoming PA’s only high schooler to qualify for Footlocker Nationals. He took 8^th place and posted a time of 15:51. Rusty’s mark is 20^th since 2006 on the VCP Footlocker Regional course for PA runners (2009-2011 was contested at Sunken Meadow). Here’s the full list:

1. Mark Dennin 15:24.0 (2007)

2. Jake Brophy 15:27.2 (2015)

3. Chris Aldrich 15:27.3 (2007)

4. Noah Affolder 15:28.2 (2016)

5. Vince McNally 15:30.3 (2007)

6. Paul Springer 15:31.9 (2006)

7. Casey Comber 15:36.4 (2014)

8. Sam Affolder 15:36.6 (2016)

9. Jake Brophy 15:37.4 (2014)

10. Dominic Hockenbury 15:38.5 (2015)

11. Ross Wilson 15:41.0 (2013)

12. Vince McNally 15:41.9 (2006)

13. Brendan Shearn 15:45.5 (2012)

14. Zach Skolnekovich 15:47.7 (2016)

15. Nathan Henderson 15:47.7 (2016)

16. Max Norris 15:48.3 (2012)

17. Dan Lowry 15:50.6 (2007)

18. Brent Kennedy 15:50.9 (2012)

19. Austin Pondel 15:51.0 (2012)

20. Rusty Kujdych 15:51.3 (2017)

12/9/2017 – Footlocker Nationals

Now Rusty will but a cap on his XC career, looking to build his resume as a PA all-time great. He will be the 24^th different PA performer to contest the National championships since 2006. Of the previous group, we had 11 under 15:50. Within the 40 person field, just 7 PA guys have cracked that half. Here’s a look at what history Rusty will look to join:

1. Noah Affolder 15:10 (6^th – 2016)

2. Jake Brophy 15:21 (8^th – 2015)

3. Dustin Wilson 15:29 (13^th – 2011)

4. Mark Dennin 15:36 (13^th – 2007)

5. Zach Hebda 15:38 (18^th – 2010)

6. Max Norris 15:41 (17^th – 2012)

7. Brendan Shearn 15:44 (21^st – 2012)

8. Brad Miles 15:45 (21^st – 2009)

9. Zach Skolnekovich 15:45 (28^th – 2016)

10. Rad Gunzenhauser 15:47 (24^th – 2009)

11. Casey Comber 15:49 (20^th – 2014)

12. Ross Wilson 15:50 (26^th – 2013)

13. Ryan Gil 15:52 (31^st – 2009)

14. Vince McNally 15:53 (27^th – 2007)

15. Jake Brophy 15:58 (25^th – 2014)

16. Austin Pondel 16:00 (32^nd – 2012)

17. Chris Campbell 16:01 (39^th – 2010)

18. Chris Aldrich 16:02 (31^st – 2007)

19. Ben Furcht 16:07 (31^st – 2009)

19. Brent Kennedy 16:07 (34^th – 2012)

21. Nate Henderson 16:11 (39^th – 2016)

22. Sam Affolder 16:12 (40^th – 2016)

23. Paul Springer 17:33 (39^th – 2007)

In theory, because there are four regions with the top 10 coming from each, Kujdych would be “seeded” in the 30s for this championship (assuming all regions are created equal which, historically, they are not). Let’s see if he can better his seed and break into the 20s for PA. Good luck to Rusty and congrats on a fantastic senior season!