Here is an update from our exciting middle distance running prospect Matt McKenna. A local athlete, Matt trains at Walton Athletic Club and has made incredible progress over the last two years – but as you can imagine, there are always challenges:
Matthew has has such a tough year! It began in January with shin splints so wasn’t able to run for 8 weeks. Then he got Achilles issues in one leg on the back of that from not running – when that healed he got them in the other leg (apparently this was because he had grown), then he got back to fitness and was due to race on the Saturday, but woke the Tuesday before with Covid and was in bed with a temp over 40 for 3 days!!
About a month ago he ran his first race of the year which was the Nationals Senior Competition with Ben Patterson (World Bronze Medalist) in his race and last week had his first win at a British Milers Club event – his time is 1:50 currently but he is training a lot faster so hopefully with a good winter training next year will see progress.
Matthew is now taking a year out to train and run. He got good A-level results and hopefully will be going to Edinburgh next September to study and also take part in their endurance programme for middle distance runners.
So in summary – it’s been a VERY frustrating year but one he can learn from and intends to use to motive himself to get to the top.
Keep pushing forwards Matt and good things will come to you, from all at DHF.
