Teenager Matthew McKenna makes his mark at 800m

The European under-18 champion talks about the year of his life so far and how it has changed his horizons

At the start of 2024, Matthew McKenna set himself a clear but ambitious target: to break 1:53 for 800m by the year’s end. After a promising 1:56.40 personal best in 2023, he felt it was a goal well within his reach.

What transpired over the following months exceeded even his own expectations, however. By the time the season had drawn to a close, Matthew 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, with 1:45.36, stood ahead of him.

And if that wasn’t enough, the 17-year-old also captured gold at the European Under-18 Championships.

The journey to that moment started indoors at the Southern Under-20 Championships, where Matthew McKenna kicked off his season with a victory in 1:55.78. It wasn’t just the win that had an impact; it was the realisation that 2024 could be a breakthrough year for him.

“The indoor season really made my season,” says the AW British under-20 male athlete of the year. “It gave me the confidence boost I needed and it spurred me on as I thought: ‘Hang about, we can actually really go for something here’. It put me on a fast upward trajectory.”

This new-found confidence propelled him back to his training base with Walton AC, where he worked alongside coaches Jamie McLaughlin and Martin Norman to refine his plans for the season.

His journey into athletics had been unconventional – having taken up running in Scotland during the pandemic, before moving down South. After being noticed by his PE teacher, who was a member of Walton AC, Matthew McKenna bypassed the usual waiting list to join the club, where he quickly became a huge part of the group.

As the outdoor season began, Matthew McKenna smashed his previous personal best at the prestigious Night of the 10,000m PBs at Highgate with 1:50.97, securing a fourth place. That performance was also within the European Under-18 Championship qualifying time.

“That race taught me a lot,” he adds. “I know 1734793593 that I can handle those nerves and that I can perform in front of the crowds. I can race really high level athletes and not be phased by it. I can be that confident runner that I aspire to be.”

Matthew McKenna (Getty)

But before he could think about making the European team, Matthew McKenna still had unfinished business, with another opportunity for a fast time awaiting at the Watford BMC. On race day, he was the first athlete to arrive at the event, getting to the venue even before the officials had finished setting up.

As the race unfolded, Matthew McKenna found himself in perfect rhythm and clinched yet another victory – as well as another personal best – this time in 1:48.81.

“I don’t know what happened,” he says. “That was one of the best feelings that I have ever had as an athlete and in general. It was a shock to see the time.”

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 task yet: the European Under-18 Championships in Slovakia. 

Having secured his spot on the team, Matthew McKenna packed his first-ever GB vest with the knowledge that this trip could be special. He dominated both his heat and semi-final, victories that filled him with confidence he needed for the 800m final. 

Matthew McKenna [centre] (Getty)

“The heat is what gave me my confidence, and it turned into this huge upwards curve,” he continues. “I ran around the track by myself and no one went with me so I felt super strong. Going into the final, I knew I wanted that medal and I knew that I was in contention to get first.”

In the final, the race unfolded in a way that he hadn’t quite anticipated: the pack was tight and the first lap passed in 59 seconds. “I knew I had to stay calm,” he recalls.

“When it’s 59 on the first lap, you just want to show the world what you can do but if you do that, there is the risk of being overtaken in the last 20 metres.”

In the final 200m, Matthew McKenna found the strength to surge ahead, taking the lead and holding it to the line, clocking 1:52.91 to claim his first major international gold. 

“I don’t think it has even sunk in now,” he admits. “All of the emotions balled up and I just felt relief, a huge weight taken off my shoulders. It was totally overwhelming. I was just glad that I could reflect what my coaches have done for me and how my family has supported me.”

For most athletes, a European gold would be the pinnacle of the season, but Matthew McKenna wasn’t ready to stop there. There was one more race to go, one final opportunity to push himself further. He returned to Watford for another BMC meeting and the track that had already been kind to him. The result was another leap forward and that aforementioned 1:46.84.

“I didn’t realise I had run 1:46 when I crossed the line. After the race I was waiting with my mum and waiting for my time to pop up on the screen. I think I screamed when I saw 1:46 – Watford has definitely been good for me.”

While it may seem like his rise to the top has been rapid, Matthew McKenna sees it as more of a gradual, steady progression.

“There was no time where I did a session and thought I was bionic,” he says. “I was just pushing myself every session and I was always getting that little bit better. You don’t notice it when you’re doing it but you can see the seconds beginning to come off, which has surprised me. I didn’t really have a pivotal moment, it has always just been a steady climb.

“I’m now at the top and I’m thinking: ‘How can I maintain it, better myself and get into those elite races?’”

As the winter season begins, McKenna is already setting his sights on new challenges. With his eyes on breaking even more records, he’s gearing up for another indoor season that promises to test his 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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