By Alex Fox
As we all know, Matthew Maton became just the sixth high schooler in American history to run a sub 4 minute mile, clocking in 3:59.38, making him the third fastest ever. While this is incredibly impressive, it didn’t come as a huge shock given that Maton also ran 3:42.54 for 1500 earlier this season. What’s interesting about both of these races is that they were collegiate races where Maton ran unattached. Maton is able to compete at such high caliber meets with the college athletes because he has no attachment to his high school team; Maton left his Summit teammates after an argument with his coach this spring (I’ll leave a link to an article about the break if you’re interested). So, given Maton’s success away from the grind of being a high school athlete, do others follow his lead? I will give both sides of why future athletes should and shouldn’t leave their teams, and this is because I myself am on the fence. Maton’s historic season has certainly given us all something to think about.
Why future track athletes should leave their teams:
When asked about not representing Summit High School, Matthew Maton has described his experience as having “a lot of freedom.” One cannot deny that leaving his high school team has caused Maton to achieve a considerable amount. When Maton runs unattached in collegiate races, there is no pressure on him to win, he does not have to lead, and the races aren’t tactical (Grant Fisher ran his 3:42 in a collegiate race with analogous settings). In addition, Maton isn’t forced to double or triple every weekend, as his team attempts to win invitational meets. There are no dual meets for Maton, and there are no wasted races. He can compete when he wants, and when he knows he can run fast. For someone as accomplished as Maton, that has to be very appealing. Maton has won his state championships already, and because he runs own his own, he successfully made history. Maton is one of six runners in American history to break 4 in the mile. I don’t about you, but I’d trade all the state titles in the world for that kind of historic accomplishment. Let’s look at someone could potentially follow Maton’s lead: Austin Tamagno. This stud ran 4:06 for the mile as a sophomore, and still has the rest of outdoor and all of next year to get faster. Being out in California, Tamagno could ditch his high school team and jump into collegiate races and try to break 4. It’s not like guys like Tamagno or Maton lose a ton by leaving their team as far as training goes; sure, Maton doesn’t see his friends at practice, but according to him, he was “training by [himself] on the team anyways.” I think if a runner has a chance at breaking 4 or accomplishing something equally historic and leaving their team will aid their pursuit, they should jump on that opportunity. If you are not for yourself, then who are you for?
Why future track athletes should not leave their teams:
For many high school track runners, being part of a team is the best experience of the sport. There is plenty to be said about personal accomplishments, but achieving something as a team is special. You only have so much time to be part of a high school team, and there is something to be said about that. When you represent your high school, you are representing all of your peers, your friends, your family, and your entire community. When you put on that high school jersey, you are racing for something bigger than yourself. Sure, you can celebrate when you win an open race, but what about celebrating a relay win with three teammates and friends? And who’s to say that you can’t have a great season running for a high school team? Guys like Mikey Brannigan and Andrew Hunter are having historic seasons (Brannigan set a NYS record in the 3200, Hunter joined Centro as the only individual to win the Mile and 3k at Penn) in their own right while repping their high schools. Finally, what’s the rush? If you are that talented, you will have four years of college races to chase sub 4. Breaking 4 is breaking 4, no matter when you do it, but you only have a limited time at that state title. High School athletics are special, and you do not need to abandon your teammates to have success on your own. Regardless of the potential for history, athletes should stay with their high school team. Being part of a team is priceless, and no amount of history can take away the memories of being part of something that profound.
What would YOU do?
I’m turning this one over to you, readers. I have personal connections to both sides of this argument: in high school, I ran three or four events at dual meets during the week and would run three events at every invite every weekend, and I feel this prevented me from reaching my full potential, as my teammates and I were totally worn down by the season’s end, when most were peaking. That said, one of my fondest memories of all of high school, both athletically and all around, was setting the school record in the 4xMile with three of my good friends. I honestly cannot say what I would do if I was in a situation where leaving the team might allow me to chase history. It’s too hard. So, you answer for me. I’m curious. This is something we as the writers have discussed, and it’s a topic I’ve brought up with a lot of my old teammates and I’m still on the fence. Being the competent and independent thinker I am, I’ll let everyone else decide for me. Really think about this…the future of high school track and field is in your hands!
Source:
http://highschoolsports.oregonlive.com/news/article/5531474896179029154/summit-distance-star-matthew-maton-talks-separation-from-team-season-plans/
Just read the link article. That kid sounds like a major tool. It seems like his mommy wanted extra special treatment for her superstar but the coaches wanted him to be a team player, so mommy took her football to play somewhere else. The sad part is this happens all the time even with kids who are far from 3:59.38. So Alex asks what would you do? I'd try to be a good teammate, the rest takes care of itself.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone is entitled to their own opinion, because although I agree I'd stay on the team, I completely disagree with your reasoning. He sounds like a decent kid who's fair and doesn't have a preference since he was training alone regardless.
DeleteHis team went to Nike XC championships, traditionally a team event, and he abandoned his team and went solo to Footlocker. If Russell or James had done that they’d have been ripped on this blog, as they should have.
DeleteHe skipped practice to go pick up his car which is unconscionable. When the coaches called
him out on it and asked that he sign a commitment to his team going forward, he refused to endorse a document that asked him to keep his word.
“I was training by myself with the team” ie: he seems to think he's too good for everyone else.
That team is better off without him and if he doesn't break free of his stage parents in 10 years when it’s all over it's likely he didn’t break any world records or even make the Olympic team he’ll be on a psychiatrist couch trying to understand why people are distant with him.
The Article said it was an optional practice, if the coach was anywhere near understanding, he would have let it slide because it was optional. Whats the harm in missing one optional practice, with a reason other than "I don't want to go"? he could have just met with the distance coach or texted him or whatever and did the workout on his own. But the head coach chose to confront him and get angry about, an optional practice, if he cared so much, why not make it mandatory? Seems to me like the coach doesn't know how to control his athletes.
Delete^ Actually the article says Maton said the practice was optional.
DeleteBut the coach never denied it, and if Maton made it up the coach would have definitely corrected it when they interviewed him.
DeleteThings don't usually turn out well for kids in this situation. Hope he learns to be humble when he gets his butt kicked in college by later-maturing kids.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that kids with his talent should leave their teams. I mean, they can do what they want, but I feel as though running isn't truly running until you do it for something above yourself. Sure he'd run faster times and be one of history's greatest runners, but I feel as though if you don't run for a team then the accomplishment is lost. Racing is more than just running fast, it's about running for your teammate right next to you, knowing that he/she's going through the same thing you are. You do it for each other, not for yourself. Or even for professionals, the ultimate goal is raving for your country, right? That's an acknowledgment of the need to race for something greater. Times don't mean anything unless it's part of something more.
ReplyDeleteEvery coach can tell stories of parents undermining and looking for special treatment cause their kid is the fastest on the team.
ReplyDeleteHard to argue that the best way to run fast times is to split from your team and skip the extra stuff like dual meets and such. The results for Maton and LV show that pretty clearly. The question comes down to simply "is it worth it" and it sounds like to most on here it's not. If you are a sub 4 HSer, you are remembered forever. If not you end up Donald Sage or Rob Finnerty.
ReplyDeleteI'm super pumped for the dream mile this year considering Maton and Fisher headline a field that hopefully will also include dudes like Hunter, Brannigan, Ritz and some other dudes from other parts of the country I don't even know about yet.
You can still be on a team and be great. A good coach will use the dual meets to work on flaws in your race strategy and pick your spots for hard efforts. One problem is that there are bad coaches who run their athletes into the ground for insignificant victories. When you have special athletes, you have to change some of the training to fit that athletes strengths and weaknesses while balancing that with the needs of the team. Most great athletes are motivated by their slower teammates. Parental over involvement, especially from parents who feel like they are knowledgable, is usually bad for the kid and bad for the team.
ReplyDelete