Fresno State Athletics
Kwiatkowksi excels for 'Dogs after humbling beginnings
10/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
By: Travis Blanshan
tblanshan@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - It is said mothers always know best. Fresno State men's cross country runner Matt Kwiatkowski is sure glad he listened to his.
A junior from San Miguel, Calif., Kwiatkowski decided to try out a few sports in high school, namely basketball and water polo, but finding neither to his liking, he took his mother's advice and gave cross country a try after hearing that his grandfather was a strong runner back in his day.
Not knowing what he was signing up for, he showed up for the first day of practice with basketball shoes and shorts. Clearly dressed for the wrong sport, the coach suggested he get some new shoes, but despite the wrong attire, he enjoyed what he got himself into. As they say, the rest is history.
Far removed from thinking running was something he was going to continue after high school, Kwiatkowski kept with it. He found success at Paso Robles High School by winning the conference championship in the 3200 meters on the track as a senior and knew he wanted to attend Fresno State to pursue a degree in the mechanical engineering program.
"I never thought I would make it to the college level, let alone a Division I team," Kwiatkowski said. "I emailed Coach Sean McManus over the summer and knew my times were not that great and I knew I had to start picking it up, so I went to work and hammered away the miles in the summer, icing up to five times a day."
"Matt was a good runner, but he was not a blue-chip or frankly recruited student-athlete for us," said Bulldog cross country coach Sean McManus. "With the limited roster size we are allowed to have on the men's side, he was not quite in the mix for recruiting, but he was very persistent and wanted to come to Fresno State and run. We had a road race on campus and I told if he came out and ran the race on campus at the beginning of the school year and he showed me something, we may let you try out."
He certainly did not disappoint as he wound up the Bulldogs third runner as a freshman.
"I have told many prospective student-athletes over my eight years that I have been the head coach to work hard over the summer and come try out," McManus said. "Most of them never show up and if they do, are not real close to making the team. He not only made the team, but was our number three runner."
Adjusting to college running at first was difficult, but he soon learned that you are not always going to feel good as a distance runner and you have to work hard regardless.
"Coach told me that sometimes you may not think you can do it, but you have to suck it up and do it," said Kwiatkowski. "Coach puts a lot of responsibility on me and shows me that you got to be a leader whether you are feeling good or not. That is what cross country, it is all about is who can endure when it is painful. It is a pain contest."
Firmly entrenching himself as a Division I runner as a sophomore, Kwiatkowski was the `Dogs first or second finisher in all five races a year ago and finished 31st at the Mountain West Championships. Early into the 2015 season, he has picked up where he left off this fall placing first or second in all three races.
"He is definitely an underdog, feel-good story," said McManus. "I use him as an example to every kid that approaches me that wants to try out for the team. You can do if you dedicate yourself."
Continuing to keep that underdog mentality about him, Kwiatkowski has certainly not lifted his foot from the gas pedal as he continues daily to strive to reach the next level.
"He definitely does not take anything for granted and knows he has to work hard," said McManus. "He puts in more miles than anyone on our team and works tirelessly in the offseason. He knows he can't rest on his laurels and has to continue to work to get better."
With the two of the season's biggest races on the horizon in the Mountain West Championships and NCAA West Regional Championships, he is excited about what is to come.
"I am stoked for conference and regionals, and as a team I think we can be right there with the top teams in the Mountain West," Kwiatkowski said.
McManus knows Kwiatkowski's calmness allows him to excel and that the possibilities for this young athlete are endless.
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