Top Centennial runner Reed Kurak back on pace after illnesses

Centennial junior Reed Kurak didn't seem dressed for practice last week. He wore a black, short-sleeve T-shirt, dark shorts and shoes as a biting wind sprayed periodic rain.

Coach Neil Kruse watched Kurak hustle past, reminding his standout to "focus, focus, focus."

He could have said even less. Kurak, an all-state runner as a sophomore last fall, overcame a sudden illness that threatened to derail his junior season. Diagnosed with encephalitis — a brain inflammation — and Lyme disease, Kurak was forced to miss segments of August workouts.

He fought back to win the prestigious Milaca Mega Meet and earn the No. 10 spot in the latest coach association rankings.

All along, he remained stoic.

"He said nothing, even to his parents, other than, 'I'm OK,' " Kruse said. "Typically the good ones will get injured because they don't want to take a break. They want to work hard to get to where they want to be, and if something hurts a little, they think it's OK."

Kurak internalized his doubts. An athlete who never previously endured even a strained muscle, Kurak struggled having to miss weeks of practice. Success as a sophomore had Kurak, who placed 23rd at state, raising his expectations a great deal. He wanted a top-five finish.

Viral infections are the most common cause of encephalitis, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Kurak said the likely culprit was a tick bite.

"I had a fever and I thought it would go away in a few days," he said. "But whenever I stood up, I felt like I was going to faint."

Initial treatments helped until his head started throbbing again. Doctors drew blood and Kurak tested positive for Lyme's disease. He spent the next three weeks taking medication as his teammates began the season.

"It was hard," he said. "I definitely missed running more than ever."

The initial comeback wasn't smooth. Feeling lightheaded, Kurak dropped out of his first race, Sept. 4 at St. Olaf, at the two-mile mark.

"It wasn't until the Milaca Meet that I knew he was OK," Kruse said.

Kurak showed well against strong competition Oct. 8 in Blaine. Facing top-10 runners Innocent Murwanashyaka (St. Paul Como Park), Micah Mather (St. Paul Highland Park), and Minneapolis Washburn's Hamza Ali and Andrew Sell, Kurak placed fourth.

"Even though my time wasn't as fast, I felt like I pushed myself more than usual," said Kurak, who believes he is competing at full capacity now.

The race was tightly contested until the final 100 meters, Kruse said.

Calling Kurak "a much more confident individual than what he exudes," Kruse said running with fellow elite runners "helped convince him that he belongs with those guys."