In the beginning of 2024, Matthew McKenna set himself a transparent however formidable goal: to interrupt 1:53 for 800m by the yr’s finish. After a promising 1:56.40 private greatest in 2023, he felt it was a purpose nicely inside his attain.
What transpired over the next months exceeded even his personal expectations, nonetheless. By the point the season had drawn to an in depth, McKenna had written his title into the historical past books with a blistering 1:46.84, making him the second-fastest under-18 800m runner in European historical past. Solely Max Burgin, with 1:45.36, stood forward of him.
And if that wasn’t sufficient, the 17-year-old additionally captured gold on the European Underneath-18 Championships.
The journey to that second began indoors on the Southern Underneath-20 Championships, the place McKenna kicked off his season with a victory in 1:55.78. It wasn’t simply the win that had an impression; it was the realisation that 2024 might be a breakthrough yr for him.
“The indoor season actually made my season,” says the AW British under-20 male athlete of the yr. “It gave me the boldness increase I wanted and it spurred me on as I believed: ‘Cling about, we will truly actually go for one thing right here’. It put me on a quick upward trajectory.”
Matthew McKenna (Graham Smith)
This new-found confidence propelled him again to his coaching base with Walton AC, the place he labored alongside coaches Jamie McLaughlin and Martin Norman to refine his plans for the season.
His journey into athletics had been unconventional – having taken up operating in Scotland throughout the pandemic, earlier than shifting down South. After being seen by his PE instructor, who was a member of Walton AC, McKenna bypassed the standard ready listing to hitch the membership, the place he shortly turned an enormous a part of the group.
Because the outside season started, McKenna smashed his earlier private greatest on the prestigious Evening of the ten,000m PBs at Highgate with 1:50.97, securing a fourth place. That efficiency was additionally inside the European Underneath-18 Championship qualifying time.
“That race taught me lots,” he provides. “I do know 1734845291 that I can deal with these nerves and that I can carry out in entrance of the crowds. I can race actually excessive stage athletes and never be phased by it. I will be that assured runner that I aspire to be.”
Matthew McKenna (Getty)
However earlier than he might take into consideration making the European workforce, McKenna nonetheless had unfinished enterprise, with one other alternative for a quick time awaiting on the Watford BMC. On race day, he was the primary athlete to reach on the occasion, attending to the venue even earlier than the officers had completed establishing.
Because the race unfolded, McKenna discovered himself in good rhythm and clinched one more victory – in addition to one other private greatest – this time in 1:48.81.
“I don’t know what occurred,” he says. “That was among the best emotions that I’ve ever had as an athlete and normally. It was a shock to see the time.”
These back-to-back PBs have been only the start. He was on a roll. After his record-breaking runs, he discovered himself getting ready for his greatest job but: the European Underneath-18 Championships in Slovakia.
Having secured his spot on the workforce, McKenna packed his first-ever GB vest with the data that this journey might be particular. He dominated each his warmth and semi-final, victories that stuffed him with confidence he wanted for the 800m remaining.
Matthew McKenna [centre] (Getty)
“The warmth is what gave me my confidence, and it was this big upwards curve,” he continues. “I ran across the monitor on my own and nobody went with me so I felt tremendous sturdy. Going into the ultimate, I knew I wished that medal and I knew that I used to be in rivalry to get first.”
Within the remaining, the race unfolded in a approach that he hadn’t fairly anticipated: the pack was tight and the primary lap handed in 59 seconds. “I knew I needed to keep calm,” he recollects.
“When it’s 59 on the primary lap, you simply wish to present the world what you are able to do however in case you do this, there may be the danger of being overtaken within the final 20 metres.”
Within the remaining 200m, McKenna discovered the energy to surge forward, taking the lead and holding it to the road, clocking 1:52.91 to say his first main worldwide gold.
“I don’t suppose it has even sunk in now,” he admits. “The entire feelings balled up and I simply felt aid, an enormous weight taken off my shoulders. It was completely overwhelming. I used to be simply glad that I might mirror what my coaches have performed for me and the way my household has supported me.”
For many athletes, a European gold can be the head of the season, however McKenna wasn’t able to cease there. There was another race to go, one remaining alternative to push himself additional. He returned to Watford for one more BMC assembly and the monitor that had already been sort to him. The end result was one other leap ahead and that aforementioned 1:46.84.
“I didn’t realise I had run 1:46 after I crossed the road. After the race I used to be ready with my mum and ready for my time to pop up on the display. I believe I screamed after I noticed 1:46 – Watford has undoubtedly been good for me.”
Whereas it might look like his rise to the highest has been speedy, McKenna sees it as extra of a gradual, regular development.
“There was no time the place I did a session and thought I used to be bionic,” he says. “I used to be simply pushing myself each session and I used to be at all times getting that little bit higher. You don’t discover it if you’re doing it however you’ll be able to see the seconds starting to return off, which has shocked me. I didn’t actually have a pivotal second, it has at all times simply been a gentle climb.
“I’m now on the prime and I’m pondering: ‘How can I keep it, higher myself and get into these elite races?’”
Because the winter season begins, McKenna is already setting his sights on new challenges. Together with his eyes on breaking much more data, he’s gearing up for one more indoor season that guarantees to check his limits. If 2024 is something to go by, we’ll be listening to much more about him within the years to return.
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