The European Under-18 champion talks about his year so far and how it has changed his mindset
At the start of 2024, Matthew McKenna set himself a clear but ambitious goal of breaking 1:53 for the 800m by the end of the year.After a promising personal best of 1:56.40 in 2023, he felt it was within his reach. :
However, what happened in the following months exceeded even his own expectations: by the time the season was over, McKenna had written his name into the history books with a blistering 1:46.84, making him the second fastest under-18 800m runner in European history. : Only Max Burgin stood before him: 1:45.36.
And if that wasn’t enough, the 17-year-old also won gold at the European Under-18 Championships.
The journey to that moment began at the Southern Under-20 Championships, where McKenna opened her season with a win in 1:55.78. it was the realization that 2024 could be a breakthrough year for him.
“The indoor season really made my season,” he says AW: British under-20 male athlete. “It gave me the confidence I needed and it gave me a boost when I thought, That put me on a fast upward trajectory.”
Matthew McKenna (Graham Smith)
This new found confidence saw him return to his training base with Walton AC where he worked with coaches Jamie McLaughlin and Martin Norman to refine his plans for the season.
His journey into athletics was unusual, running in Scotland during the pandemic before moving south. After being spotted by his PE teacher, who was a member of Walton AC, McKenna bypassed the usual waiting list to join the club, where he quickly became a huge part of the group. part.
As the outdoor season began, McKenna beat her previous personal best of 1:50.97 in a prestigious night of 10,000m PBs at Highgate to secure fourth place It was within the selection time of the 18-year-old championship.
“That race taught me a lot,” he added I want to be the confident runner I aspire to be.”
Matthew McKenna (Getty)
But before he could think about making the European team, McKenna still had unfinished business, waiting for another chance at a fast time at Watford BMC.
As the race unfolded, McKenna found herself in a perfect rhythm and took yet another win as well as a personal best, this time in 1:48.81.
“I don’t know what happened,” he says. “It was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had as an athlete and in general. It was a shock.”
These back-to-back PBs were just the beginning.He was on a roll.After his record-breaking runs, he found himself preparing for his biggest challenge yet: the European Under-18 Championships in Slovakia.
Having secured his place in the team, McKenna packed his first GB vest knowing that this trip could be a special one.
Matthew McKenna (center) (Getty)
“The heat is what gave me confidence and it turned into this huge uphill curve,” he continues “I knew I wanted that medal and I knew I was fighting to get the first one.”
In the final, the race unfolded in a way that he did not expect. the pack was tight and the first lap went by in 59 seconds. “I knew I had to stay calm,” he recalled.
“When it’s 59 on the first lap, you just want to show the world what you can do, but if you do that, you risk being overtaken in the last 20 meters.”
In the final 200m, McKenna found the strength to take the lead, grabbing the lead and holding it to the line, winning her first major international gold in 1:52.91.
“I don’t think it’s even sunk in yet,” he admits. what my coaches have done for me and how my family has supported me.”
For most athletes, European gold would be the pinnacle of the season, but McKenna wasn’t ready to stop there. There was one more race, one last chance to push himself further. He returned to Watford for another BMC meeting and the track was already kind to him : The result was another jump ahead and the above mentioned 1:46.84.
“I didn’t realize I’d run 1:46 when I crossed the line. After the race I was waiting for my time to come up on the screen. I think I screamed when I saw 1:46 – definitely good.” was for me.”
While it may seem like his rise has been rapid, McKenna sees it as more of a gradual, steady progression.
“There was never a time when I was doing a session and I thought I was bionic,” he says , that the seconds are starting to come out, which surprised me. I haven’t really had a turning point, it’s always been a steady climb.
“I’m on a high now and I’m thinking: “How can I maintain it, improve myself and get into that elite race?”
As the winter season begins, McKenna is already setting her sights on new challenges. With more records to break, she’s gearing up for another indoor season that promises to test her limits. If 2024 is anything to go by, we’ll be hearing a lot more about him in the years to come.
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