A big running month for O’Fallon family

July will be an important running month for Megan, Jesse and Danny Mathews of O’Fallon, Mo. They are seeking to qualify for the national AAU track and field meets.

Megan Mathews

They’ve all qualified for regional meets. July is a big stepping stone to the nationals.

Fifteen-year-old Megan, 12-year-old Jesse and 8-year-old Danny already have competed in the AAU national meets in cross-country running. Jesse also ran in last year’s track and field nationals.

Megan is trying to qualify in the 1,500- and 3,000-meter runs. Jesse is seeking berths in both the 1,500 and 3,000 and in the 4x800 relay. Danny competes in the 800- and 1,500-meter runs as well as the long jump.

The first regional competition is early in July in Joplin, Mo. Then, there’s another regional meet before they know whether they’ve made the nationals.

The kids come from a running family and got started early in life.

Megan is a sophomore at the Christian High School in O’Fallon. She said, “My dad coached track when I was little.”

Jesse Mathews

Jesse ran his first mile at age seven. In third grade, he got a chance to train with the Christian High School track team because his dad was a volunteer coach. Jeff Mathews is a chiropractor who helps with track in his off time.

Danny has been running since he was six.

The kids all belong to the St. Louis Blazer Track Club, coached by Blair Porter. They have club practices every Tuesday and Thursday.

Megan said the Blazer practices are strenuous. She said the team members start off with four laps to warm up. Then, there is stretching and a “fast” lap. The kids then do a series of 50-meter runs to improve their running form.

Jesse said Coach Porter then has the regular workout schedule. “And you can be sure it will be difficult,” he added.

The workout ends with a 300-meter “fast” run and several laps to cool down.

But, the Mathews kids go beyond that. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the family gets up early for additional conditioning and training. They are up by 5:15 a.m.

The kids already have had running success.

Two years ago, Megan set the records in both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs at the Missouri Christian school state tournament in Joplin. She was competing as an 8th grader and said that was her best running experience.

Danny Mathews

But, she said this year’s state tournament was her worst track experience.

That’s because, as a 9th grader, she finished second in the 1,600 and third in the 3,200. However, there was a silver lining. She added, “My records from two years ago still stand.”

Jesse said his best running experience was in the national cross-country meet in Ohio. He finished 30th out of over 250 runners in his age group. Jesse said his low point in running came in last year’s track and field nationals when he finished far back in the 3,200.

“I started out way too slow and couldn’t catch up,” he said.

Danny said he enjoyed running in last year’s cross-country nationals. He was only 7 years old but competed in the 10-and-under class. He finished 70th against the older kids.

He was happy because the first 80 got medals. And he also had fun “because I got real muddy.” The cross-country course received a heavy rain the day before he ran.

However, there was some disappointment. “I was hoping to finish in the top 50. All those kids got a free trip to Disney World in Florida,” he said.

The kids all have to keep their school grades up if they want to continue to run.

Jesse admits that he had a few problems this last school year. “I’m the fastest runner but I’m the mostly like to not be able to run,” Jesse said. But, once he was forced to miss practice his grades improved quickly.

The kids have some immediate athletic goals. Megan said she wants to beat her personal bests of 5:18 in the 1,500 and 11:16 in the 3,000.

Jesse wants to qualify for the nationals in three events. He’d like to medal in the 3,200 and the 4x800 relay.

But, he said he wasn’t as optimistic about the 1,600. He said there’s a runner from Michigan who is “scary fast” at that distance.