Best Of The West Athlete Spotlight

May 05, 2009

One of the fastest female athletes in Arizona,Chandler senior Larissa Matthews heads into the final weeks of her high school season with 7 State Championship Titles, 4 of them individuals. Larissa won the 100 hurdles as a sophomore and has been part of the winning 4x100 relay her last three years.

Last year as a junior she won 3 of her individual titles in the 100 meter hurdles, 100 meter dash and the 300 meter hurdles. She also anchored the 4x100 meter relay helping her teammates to a 3rd 4x100 relay State Title. The only 100 meter hurdler to break 14 seconds in Arizona, Larissa is ranked 9th in the US. The petite athlete can easily be spotted in a race as sheglides smoothly and effortlessly over the hurdles. Watch for Larissa as she goes for 4 more State Championship Titles at the 5A I State Championships next week at Chandler High School.

PR's

100 Meter Hurdles - 13.86

100 Meter Dash - 12.14

300 Meter Hurdles - 43.42

AZTrackXC: Larissa, you ended your 2008 Track and Field High School season with three individual State Championship Titles. Are you hoping for the same outcome this season?

Larissa Matthews: Yes I am and hopefully the team can carry it on for the next 10 years and so on.

AZTrackXC: How long have you been running and when did you first get involved in Track and Field?

Larissa Matthews: About 11 to 12 years now. When I was younger my mom saw that I really liked to run a lot and she just stuck me in track and gave it a try.

AZTrackXC: How is your training going and what is a typical training week like for you?

Larissa Matthews: Training right now is light and simple since we have region and state, we just do things to stay in the motion of running and hurdle technique.

But, if it were a hard day and we didn’t have big meets we would be doing harder things like stadiums and 300 runs and more complicated stuff like that. With the extra weight training added in as well.

AZTrackXC: What are your goals for the upcoming State Meet season?

Larissa Matthews: To hopefully get state titles in both the hurdles and possibly break some records.

AZTrackXC: How do you prepare yourself mentally for a race and do you have any superstitions?

Larissa Matthews: I try to focus on the things I need to do, and sometimes block out any distractions. And when I’m not on the field I listen to music with a fast beat to get me pumped.

- and usually I will wear chandler socks and certain undergarments to make me feel fast.

AZTrackXC: What message would you tell younger runners who aspire to be at the best they can be?

Larissa Matthews: Basically don’t take training as a joke and work hard all the time, because sooner or later the hard work will pay off and will show on the track.

- and to definitely stay motivated and disciplined through the whole process as well.

AZTrackXC: Do you have any role models or mentors in track and field?

Larissa Matthews: Role model: Jackie Johnson and my mom

AZTrackXC: Will you be doing any post season meets? If so where and when?

Larissa Matthews: Great southwest june 7 in New Mexico, and that’s just about it. since I’m going to college and having non-stop training and running for the next four years of my life, my coach (college coach) is allowing me to just lift and train over the summer until I go down there

AZTrackXC: You will be attending Texas Christian University in the fall. Tell us a little about the recruiting process and why you decided on Texas Christian. Did you look at any other schools?

Larissa Matthews: The recruiting process was pretty stressful, I mean you have a lot of choices and it all comes down to what place do you want to spend four years of your life at. But TCU’s coaching and staff was a lot like the coaching my coach does here in high school and I know there will be a bit of change but personality wise in the coach, they are about the same and that’s what I liked about the college as well. Plus, I don’t have to worry too much about getting lost in the small campus anyway. ;)

AZTrackXC: You will be attending Texas Christian University in the fall. Tell us a little about the recruiting process and why you decided on Texas Christian. Did you look at any other schools?

Larissa Matthews:

The recruiting process was pretty stressful, I mean you have a lot of choices and it all comes down to what place do you want to spend four years of your life at. But TCU’s coaching and staff was a lot like the coaching my coach does here in high school and I know there will be a bit of change but personality wise in the coach, they are about the same and that’s what I liked about the college as well. Plus, I don’t have to worry too much about getting lost in the small campus anyway. ;)

AZTrackXC: Most of us only know you as a runner. What is one thing you would like us to know about you outside of running?

Larissa Matthews: The opportunity of having a great track family that I know will always be by my side.

AZTrackXC: Looking back on the last four year of track, what is your favorite track moment.

Larissa Matthews: I really can’t narrow it down, but the barbeque is always the best. And when we are bored sitting in the stands we (the team) always raps and dances, and basically always do something to entertain ourselves.