Cranbrook Kingswood cross country junior shines at Nike Indoor Nationals

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — As the most talented runners from across the nation gathered at The Armory in New York for the three-day Nike Indoor Nationals March 10, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood junior Solomon Kwartowitz was prepared for whatever the national talents had to throw at him.

Only his first year running competitively, and detached from his school, Kwartowitz lined up for the Boys 2 Mile Run Championship at a national event. Nervous, uncertain, yet prepared, Kwartowitz shined when it mattered most, finishing first in his heat, but had to wait patiently as the second heat prepared to start.

“I remember hearing the announcers say they were going out really fast because a 9.09 was put up by me, and I saw them,” Kwartowitz said. “It was going to be really close if I wanted to get sixth. As I was taking my spikes off after the race, I was still really close to the track, and my dad came over and was with me. I got to watch the last couple laps of the heat after me, and it was a nail biter.”

As the second heat finished and scores were posted, Kwartowitz was overcome with joy to learn his time earned him a sixth-place finish.

With the finish, Kwartowitz earned all-American honors at nationals in his first competitive season.

Kwartowitz said he had the all-American honor in mind when heading to nationals.

“When reading through the Nike National handbook and how the meet was going to be run, I realized the top six get medals and are called all-American,” Kwartowitz said. “I never understood how an all-American worked in any sport and not in terms of track yet, and that was a goal, but also a stretch.”

Kwartowitz earned a bid to nationals after an impressive performance at the Michigan Indoor Track Series State Meet Feb. 26 at the Lincoln Athletic Building in Ypsilanti.

Needing to tally a 9:20 time in the 3200 to qualify for nationals, Kwartowitz’s 9:19:31 time, which earned him a sixth-place finish, was enough to earn him a spot.

“It was definitely a big confidence boost, but also kind of a wakeup call, because there were some good juniors, seniors and one really good sophomore who I’m going to be competing against outdoors, so I definitely have to keep up my training if I want to run with them,” Kwartowitz said.

Perseverance mixed with uncertainty was the calling-card for his competitive season, which didn’t start out like Kwartowitz had hoped.

Battling patella tendinitis and Iliotibial band syndrome, which can cause pain at the knee and hip in the case of IT band syndrome, Kwartowitz would get a late start to his training following his cross country season with Cranbrook Kingswood that concluded Nov. 5. Kwartowitz earned ninth at the 2022 Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 Cross Country State Finals out of a field of 258 runners.

While overcoming physical obstacles, Kwartowitz said the mental aspect of it was a tough hill to climb as well.

“It’s really different because I’ve always done it throughout the winter with running on my own and keeping up training for track season in the spring, but it’s much harder on your own when you’re not surrounded by your teammates every day,” Kwartowitz said. “You have the mental barriers there.”

Kwartowitz began training with Elite Performance Track Club, which is based in Waterford, in the winter before the competitive season began.

His first year with the club, Kwartowitz and club coach John Barbee clicked immediately.

Only a few months as a part of the club now, Barbee said he’s seen a significant improvement with Kwartowitz in one specific area.

“Just understanding how to run a race,” Barbee said. “He’s developed a race strategy, and he’s understanding if it’s fast paced, slow paced, and how they’re going to run the race. Before, he didn’t really understand that.”

As the competitive outdoor season is slated to begin, Kwartowitz will look to carry the indoor track momentum into the season.

At the end of the day, Kwartowitz is a humble runner who gives all praise to Cranbrook Kingswood cross country coach Greg Miller, Barbee, and most importantly, his mother, Estelle, and father, Mark.

“He’s (Mark Kwartowitz) a really good triathlete now who has done more marathons than I can count, and has done 12 Ironmans,” Kwartowitz said. “I say I get my running from both my dad and my mom, because my mom has also done marathons on bikes too.”