By JOHN ROARK

john.roark@register-news.com

FORSYTH — Last Saturday’s Decatur MacArthur Class 2A sectional was a joyous time for the Mt. Vernon Township girls cross-country team, the Lady Rams having qualified for this weekend’s state meet.

But for junior Keatyn Kujawa, it was a day mixed with happiness and heartbreak. Kujawa, a top-four runner for Connie Harre-Blair’s program during her first two years, has been out all but one meet this season due to lingering health issues that haven’t — and likely won’t — go away.

All which doesn’t get in her way of hanging around her teammates despite a trying fall campaign.

Kujawa was diagnosed with painful back problems related to her sacroiliac, or SI, joint that keeps popping out of place.

The SI joint connects the base of the spine and the pelvis by ligaments.

Kujawa’s problem is that the joint keeps coming out of the socket, and a cyst has developed.

“It keeps coming out of the socket,” Kujawa said. “It has a cyst, and it rotates the vertebrae. It’s just one thing leading to another that is going wrong with it.” I will have this for the rest of my life.”

Kujawa’s only outing this season came two months ago in the Sept. 2 Murphysboro Invitational.

Kujawa ran 10th in 21 minutes, 9 seconds at Murphy, and was the Lady Rams’ fourth scorer that day, though she ran in pain.

However, the suffering was too much, and Kujawa was forced to shut it down for the season.

“Keatyn would have definitely been a top-seven runner for us,” Harre-Blair said. “But it is too painful a situation for her to compete.”

While her teammates were competing this season, Kujawa did her best to participate and help in any way possible.

“I just try to help the team out in any way I can,” Kujawa said. “I can take times and support them and come to all the meets and practices.”

Last season, Kujawa was the Lady Rams’ No. 2 runner behind Margo Richardson, who is looking to repeat as 2A champion this weekend at Peoria’s Detweiler Park.

“Keatyn was second for us at (the South Seven Conference) meet and at the regional,” Harre-Blair said, “and then fourth at the sectional. As a freshman, Keatyn was fourth for us in the regional.”

Harre-Blair says Kujawa has always been around the team this season, despite being out of the lineup.

“Unless she had therapy, Keatyn was at all the practices and meets,” the coach said. “At the meets she writes down mile and two-mile splits. I am sure it wouldn’t be as exciting to do that, compared to running in the state meet.”

But Harre-Blair says Kujawa has to look at the bigger picture, and beyond this weekend’s state meet.

“What we have to do is be patient with it,” Harre-Blair said of the injury. “Keatyn wants to be able to feel good when she runs, not struggle. The only way that can happen is through therapy and strengthening the back. Can she come back and run with us next year? We certainly hope so.”

How that is done may be tricky.

“All the doctors can do is put the back into place and then strengthen things,” Kujawa said. “Make it stronger so I can run with it.”

Kujawa and Harre-Blair are both hoping that the pain can go away, and that the Lady Rams’ injured harrier can resume track training after the holidays. Kujawa’s spring concentration will be at 1,600 meters.

Several times Saturday, Kujawa fought back tears while assessing her teammates’ state-qualifying performance.

“I am really proud of them, they worked really hard and they deserved this,” Kujawa said, turning away briefly. “For me, I try to be there, even when I can’t run.”