Jonathan Kowal knew his hurdling form was solid before the high school track season began. So, he concentrated on one thing ... getting faster.

An Ambridge Area High School senior, he has accomplished that mission and has developed into one of the top hurdlers in the WPIAL Class AAA ranks this season.

Going into today's Class AAA championships at Baldwin High School, Kowal had one of the fastest times, along with Greensburg Salem's Scott Steel and Connellsville's Scott Jones, in the 110-meter high hurdles. In the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, he has the second-fastest time behind that of Matt Timko of North Hills.

The WPIAL Class AAA track championships get under way at 2 p.m. today with field events. Running events start at 3 p.m. The top four in each event automatically qualify for the PIAA championships May 25-26 at Shippensburg University. Those individuals and relay team that place in the top eight and meet the PIAA qualifying standard also advance.

It should be pointed out that Kowal has lost just once in the 110 hurdles this season and that was to Erie McDowell's Brice Myers in the finals at the Baldwin Invitational earlier this month. He won the 300 intermediates at Baldwin.

Kowal didn't change his training that much from last year. He just got into the weight room and became bigger and stronger.

He also worked hard during the indoor track season and placed eighth in the 60-meter hurdles at the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association championships at Penn State. Admittedly, the 60 hurdles is not his best race.

"I'm better the second part of the race," he said. "I'm just getting going and that race is over."

But the 60 hurdles was good for Kowal because it forced him to get out of the blocks in a hurry, something he's going to have to do today if he is to win the 110 hurdles at Baldwin

His goal this season is to run the 110 hurdles in 14.1 seconds. He hasn't don that yet, but has come close with a 14.3.

In the 300 intermediates, he wants to hit 37 seconds. At the qualifier last week, Kowal turned in a 38.8.

"Maybe I could have gotten to the 37s, but I eased off at the end," he said. "We'll see what happens at the championships."

The fact he will be going against Timko should help. They have developed a friendly rivalry and push each other to go faster.

At last year's WPIAL championships, Kowal was sixth in the 110 hurdles in 15.73 and 13th in the 300 intermediates. He doesn't favor one race over the other.

"I'm sort of split on which one I like the best," he said. "I kind of like the 110s because it's fast, but I like the 300s, too."

Kowal tries to intimidate the competition by going out hard in the intermediate hurdles. His philosophy is to get a fast start and then hang on at the end.

He also runs a leg on Ambridge's 1,600-meter relay along with Tom Patterson, Demetri Odem and Brian Adams. Kowal said the relay, which ran a 3:31 at the qualifier, has a chance to make the PIAA meet.

The problem is that Ambridge isn't in the fast heat in the event, which will make it tough for the Bridgers to reach the top four. The qualifying standard for the PIAA meet is 3:24.03.

"We ran that time [3:31] at the qualifier and I didn't even run on it," Kowal said. "I think we have a shot."

Kowal hasn't decided on a college for next year. He is considering Ohio State, Kent State and Coastal Carolina. He wants to major in education and perhaps coach one day.

On the girls' side, Hopewell coach Kevin O'Connor is hoping to take a large contingent to the PIAA championships.

"We booked nine rooms out there in anticipation of what we might do," he said. "I'm really looking forward to this [the championships]."

Hopewell junior Kailey Baker has one of the better times in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the 400-meter relay is in the fast heat. Becky Novacek is the defending champion in the high jump, but will be challenged by Seneca Valley's Da'Lynn Mills, Butler's Ashley Lotz and Montour's Kelsey Mersing.

"The only thing that worried me is that our team is so young that they won't understand they have to get their rest between events," O'Connor said. "I think they learned their lesson at the Baldwin Invitational."

AROUND THE TRACK: Moon's Layne Baggett and Megan Mischler have two of the better times in the 100 low and 300 intermediate hurdles. ... Ellwood City's Bethany Walker has the second-best time in the 3,200 run and fifth-best in the 1,600. ... Montour's Mallory Mitchell is seeded fourth in the long jump and Ambridge's Madison Edwards is seeded fourth in the discus. ... Blackhawk's Annie Patton is seeded second in the javelin. ... On the boys' side, Hopewell's Spencer Marshall is among the leaders in the high jump and teammate Bruce Fleming is the top seed in the javelin.