Katy Matthews races to finish training
A young Waikato middle-distance runner has beaten glandular fever and an injured foot to compete in the nationals later this month.
Hamilton runner Katy Matthews, 17, has recovered from injury and is preparing to compete at the nationals in Auckland this month.
She has previously been to three national competitions.
Matthews represented New Zealand in the 800 meters run at the Oceania games in Cairns, Australia last year where she placed second. Her best time for 800 meters is 2 minutes 11 seconds.
After Australia she contracted glandular fever which “stuffed up” her training during the winter months. “I couldn’t do a lot because I was really tired all the time.”
Glandular fever is often caught by athletes, particularly when sharing water bottles.
When she returned to training she injured her foot meaning more time off. “It wasn’t anything major, just inflammation.”
Matthews started athletics at age eight and has had training for running since she was 13. “I was good at it, good at cross country. I wasn’t very good at ball sports, I wouldn’t say we were a sporty household but we were active, we did a lot of tramping and stuff.”
The middle-distance runner usually trains between 12 to 15 hours a week which can affect her social life. “I can’t go out on Fridays and then compete Saturdays.” However, at the same time Matthews says she has met a lot of “cool” people and made “heaps of friends”.
Her ultimate goal is to compete at the Olympics and she is aiming for the 2020 games.
