“It was unbelievable and it still blows my mind,” sophomore Rusty Kujdych said. Last week the distance runner qualified for the indoor track State Championships, with a time of 8:48 minutes in the 3000 meter run.

“I completely exceeded my coaches’ and my own expectations, and it goes to show that hard work eventually pays off,” Kujdych said. After his record breaking performance, Kujdych now holds the fastest time in Pennsylvania, as well as the 5th fastest time in the United States.

Kujdych is also an active competitor in the 1600m run posting competitive times. Just a week before his record shattering performance in the 3000m run, Kujdych finished 4:31 minutes, placing second in the meet.

“I first joined a track team in 7th grade, but I have enjoyed running since I can remember. It has always been fun to me,” Kujdych said.

Kujdych may be running record breaking times as only a sophomore but he is nowhere near finished. “I have a few goals in mind,” Kujdych said, “but for now I’m just taking the season meet by meet.”