Brothers on the Run
- 20 April 2010
Matt Kujawski jokingly said that it's easy to tell him apart from twin brother Andrew, because he sees himself as the better looking one, the faster one and, probably, the smarter one.Andrew Kujawski counters that, as the older of the brothers -- by 14 whole minutes -- he's more learned, probably more athletic, taller and is the one responsible for getting the two on the Ephrata track team.
Whatever the case may be, the Mountaineers seniors, in just their second season of competition, are having a huge impact on the L-L League.
During Monday's 80-70 Section Two victory over visiting Cocalico, Matt Kujawski won the 100 (10.9), 200 (22.1) and long jump (19-4 3/4) for Ephrata (2-1-1 L-L, 2-3-1 overall).
Andrew Kujawski claimed the open 400 (50.4), ran a 51.0 anchor split on the winning 1,600 relay (3:34.2) and was second in the 800 (2:05.8) when he was outleaned at the finish by Cocalico's J.J. Harper (2:05.8), whom Kujawski almost caught from behind on the home stretch.
Those two, along with Quint Felak (41.9) winning the intermediate hurdles in only his fourth try at the event, and Joel Wells taking second in both the shot put (43-2a-x) and discus (117-9) with career-best throws, helped the Ephrata boys defeat Cocalico (1-3, 2-3) for the first time since 2003.
"I figured we'd get 80 points, but certainly not the way it happened,'' said Ephrata coach John Keller, whose 400 relay team was disqualified when it botched the first exchange.
Keller added that he was proud of the way the Ephrata girls (4-0, 6-0) performed in their 101-49 triumph over Cocalico (1-3, 1-4).
If not for the effort of athletes like Cocalico sophomore Kyle Felpel, who won the shot (52-8), discus (147-7) and javelin (151-6), the boys' score may have been more lopsided.
"I was real happy with the way our kids competed,'' said Cocalico coach Ron Derr.
Felpel and Cocalico throwing coach Scott Krall were both quick to credit Harrisburg-area throwing coach Glenn Thompson with much of Felpel's improvement this season. Krall said that Thompson helped coach Annville-Cleona's Jeremy Silverman and Central Dauphin's Ryan Whiting to state titles.
"I think he has a better understanding of the events,'' Krall said of Felpel's improvement. "He's naturally gifted, but also has a deep desire. That drive turns into a solid work ethic, and that's where, ultimately, you get your results.''
Felpel is now using a spin in the shot, and said that in the disc, "it's just something that has to click, and it just clicked this year.''
Krall is also big on the mental aspect of the sport, and that teaching technique is for practice only.
"Practice is for thinking, meets aren't,'' said Krall. "At meets you want to use your attitude and energy. You have to trust your technique.''
Just like Felpel, Matt Kujawski is technically sound. That's very evident in the 100, where he stays low as he explodes out of the blocks, not rising to his full height until 40 or 50 meters into the race. Then, he just blows down the track and has a league-best 10.7 to prove it.
Andrew Kujawski (league-best 49.9) is one of the top 400 runners in the area, and is anxious to face Hempfield's Hansel Akers (season-best 49.95) in the Millersville Invitational on Friday at Millersville University.
"Can't wait,'' Andrew Kujawski said of the showdown.
Matt Kujawski, who ran behind teammate and eventual L-L League Meet champ Jordan Yarbrough last season, will have to wait until this year's L-L Meet on May 15 at Hempfield for his showdown.
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