European U18 800m champion Matthew McKenna’s fast rise to success

The European U18 champion discusses his record-breaking achievements, his large influences and why he wears a baseball cap the incorrect approach spherical

Matthew McKenna started the observe season with modest ambitions on the nationwide stage however ended it by firmly establishing himself on the worldwide scene.

The 17-year-old captured the 800m gold medal on the European U18 Championships in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, clocking a time of 1:52.91 with a powerful end in July.

Recognisable for racing together with his signature baseball cap on backwards, he then introduced his aggressive summer time to an in depth on a excessive on the Watford BMC in August.

The Walton athlete minimize practically two seconds off his earlier private finest within the two-lap occasion, dropping from 1:48.78 to 1:46.84. This achievement locations him second on the European U18 all-time record, simply behind Olympic finalist Max Burgin’s 2019 document of 1:45.36.

McKenna’s rise has been fast, particularly contemplating he solely started severely competing two years in the past after transferring south from Scotland. He’s now extra decided than ever to proceed testing himself towards the most effective. 

Matthew McKenna [C] (Getty)

How did all of it start?

It was lockdown and I used to be dwelling in Aberdeen, and I might simply run day-after-day as a result of I had nothing else higher to do. In the course of the pandemic, I moved right down to England, and I wasn’t on the observe in any respect. I used to be enjoying soccer, however I wasn’t actually having fun with it. I wished to play to a excessive commonplace, and I additionally wished to do a sport the place all the things was depending on me – the place if I misplaced it was my fault and if I gained then I achieved it myself. 

So I made a decision to affix observe and I’ve solely been racing at a excessive degree for 2 years. In the event you informed me two years in the past this is able to be taking place, then I might have laughed in your face.

How did it really feel to win the European U18 800m title this summer time?

One thing occurred in that warm-up space. It was the most effective I’ve ever felt. I used to be strolling alongside, singing to music and I used to be in a circulate. Within the name room I generally really feel a bit flat, however I watched Shaikira King’s race [the Briton came second] on the little pc while everybody else was leaping round and it gave me a surge of vitality. I managed to hold that by way of onto the beginning line and from the beginning line it was good. 

I went round actually slowly, however I knew that I might deal with gradual after which burn by way of the final 200m. When you see the end line and no-one else in entrance of you it feels surreal, so I stored pushing and what a race it was.

 

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Did you anticipate to run 1:46.84 on the Watford BMC? 

I raced one other BMC this 12 months [Bury] and ran 1:48 in windy circumstances so I knew I used to be in fine condition, and [that] I would as nicely throw myself into yet another. 

I went by way of 400m in about 52 seconds, and I assumed: “Oh my god I really feel superb” so I simply maintained it. To have such elite athletes in entrance of me and figuring out that I can run with athletes of that sort spurred me on within the final 200m and I simply stored with it. It was undoubtedly one other shock to the system. 

Who do you look as much as?

I aspire to all these superb athletes, and I need to be in so lots of their footwear. I need to race within the races that they’re in, particularly Josh Kerr. He’s from Scotland so what an inspiration he’s to me. Additionally, Max Burgin. Hopefully I can race him someday sooner or later. That will be a reasonably large dream however for now I’ll proceed going for his instances.

Why do you at all times put on a backwards baseball cap throughout a race?

It’s a gimmick. After I first began racing, I at all times wore a hat after which I simply began carrying it extra typically and in coaching. After I practice with one thing I don’t need to change it within the race. I took it off for considered one of my 1500m races and I simply felt bizarre, so I’ve obtained to maintain it on and hopefully I proceed working the instances with it. 

What does a mean week of coaching appear like?

I had an excellent winter with my coach, doing dash work plus some cardio work, so I responded to that nicely. My summer time coaching has been fairly constant. I’m not a excessive mileage athlete, so I gained’t run too far. I’ll be sprinting a few times per week while retaining that cardio base all through. I practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I’ve obtained a Saturday session the place my brother has began coaching with me.

Matthew McKenna (Getty)

What are your subsequent objectives?

This 12 months my aim was to run 1:53, which I ran indoors after which I ran 1:50 and I simply stored getting higher. I’ve obtained to set myself life like targets of simply bettering myself and I simply need to be higher than I used to be.

I’m not likely wanting into what particular races I have to run or what mileage I have to hit, I simply need to maintain doing what I’m doing and progressing. I need to win all the things. I’ve at all times been like that since I used to be a child enjoying soccer.

What would Matt when he began working say to Matt now?

Don’t care about what different individuals are doing. You see instances on the web, and also you watch individuals working races and also you assume: “Why am I not at that commonplace?” Or “Why is he higher than me?” It is advisable to simply maintain eager about your self and what you need to do and the way you’re going to get higher, not different individuals.

» This text first appeared within the October difficulty of AW journal. Subscribe to AW journal right here, try our new podcast right here or signal as much as our digital archive of again points from 1945 to the current day right here

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