Justin Kwasa has made a habit of writing and rewriting the record books at Saint Louis University. The junior is currently the only thrower on the entire track and field team. Actually, he is the only thrower that the school has ever had. This makes rewriting the record books a little easier.
However, the record book for track and field at SLU really isn’t that old to begin with. SLU only added the track team in 2006, and did not compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships until the following season. So while Kwasa may only be in his third year at SLU, the track and field team is only on its fourth. Thus, the absence of a thrower hasn’t really been felt.
Kwasa currently owns five school records—three records for the outdoor season and two for the indoor. For indoor, Kwasa’s record for the shot put stands at 44 feet, 1.25 inches. The weight-throw record is at 58 feet, 5.25 inches. Both of these feats were accomplished earlier this season. His outdoor records are in the shot put, discus throw and hammer throw, with distances of 39 feet, 6.5 inches, 145 feet, 2 inches and 171 feet, 2 inches, respectively.
“Of course it feels good to hold all these records, but I always remember that it is just a competition with myself,” Kwasa said. “Right now, I’m just concentrating on doing the best that I can so that maybe some of these records will be around for awhile.”
Kwasa joined his high school’s track team with several friends during his senior year. “I’ve always been a pretty competitive person, so [throwing] was just another thing to
compete in,” Kwasa said.
The economics major was not recruited by SLU to throw; instead, he approached head track and field coach Jon Bell with the idea during his freshman year.
Bell, whose background is in running, says that Kwasa’s involvement with the team has been a good learning experience for him.
“I thought it was a great opportunity when [Kwasa] first came to me,” Bell said. “We’ve had a great working relationship for the past three years.”
Because of Kwasa’s unique position as the lone thrower, he does not practice with the rest of the track and field team.
“It actually works out pretty well because I get a lot of one-on-one attention,” Kwasa said. “All of [Bell’s] focus is on me, so we have some pretty productive practices.”
Kwasa meets with Bell at least twice a week in the Bauman-Eberhardt Center, to throw and lifts weights at Chaifetz Arena several more times a week.
“ [Kwasa] is one of the hardest workers on the team, so I really enjoy working with him,” Bell said.
When Kwasa isn’t setting school records, he can usually be found in Reinert Hall, where he is a resident assistant. Even with all of his records, Kwasa stays humble by hanging out with friends or enjoying a good book.
“I just hope that my records can be motivation for future students at SLU,” Kwasa said.
Kwasa and the rest of the track and field team head to Kingston, R.I., on Feb. 19 for the A-10 Indoor Track and Field Conference Championship. The outdoor season begins a month later, when the Billikens will travel to Tulsa, Okla., on Mar. 19.
