Kucia helps Paul Smith’s race to national championship

PAUL SMITHS, N.Y. – At Canton High, David Kucia was an All-State hurdler who helped the boys track and field program win its first Class S state championship in 2011. When it was time to select a college, he choose Paul Smith’s College in the update New York, located within the Adirondack State Park where he is studying Fish and Wildlife Sciences.

But he hasn’t lost his love of athletic competition. He runs on the school’s cross country team and helped Paul Smith’s capture a second straight national championship in snowshoe racing in March in Bend, Oregon.

Kucia and three of his Paul Smith’s teammates won the 6 kilometer relay race at the U.S. Snowshoe Association (USSA) national championships in the men’s open division with a time of 14:33. It was the fastest relay team in all of the relay races. Each runner ran 1.5 kilometers. Kucia ran his leg in 3:36, the second fastest leg on the squad. It’s the second year in a row that Paul Smith won the national title in the relay race.

Kucia ran the second leg and overtook two runners to put Paul Smith into the lead. He extended the lead to 200 meters before tagging teammate Jack Mulvihill for the third leg.

Kucia also participated in the 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) run. He placed 33rd with a time of 1:07.02.