After only running 4x400 relay prelims last year at World U-20 Championships in Finland, Boling inspired to win individual, 4x100 relay gold and challenge meet records in Costa Rica

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

All the inspiration Matthew Boling has needed on his journey to the Pan American U-20 Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica can be found in one simple passage in the notes application in his cell phone.

The Houston Strake Jesuit TX graduate was a member of the U.S. national team last year that competed at the IAAF World U-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, running in the 4x400-meter relay prelims.

But when it came time for the American coaching staff to select the athletes who would be competing in the 4x400 final, Boling wasn’t chosen, prompting him to compose a reminder in his phone before returning home.

“I remember writing down in my notes in my phone that I will never take an opportunity for granted again,” Boling said. “My goal, literally since last year, was to come out and make open events for Team USA.”

On the eve of his 100-meter final June 22 at the USATF U-20 Outdoor Championships, the Georgia-bound Boling consulted his phone once more for motivation to ensure his aspirations would be realized in Miramar, Fla.

“I was looking through my notes in my phone and I saw July 10, 2018, and I got chills when I read that,” Boling said. “I knew I was ready and I just wanted to come out and do my best and execute.”

Although Boling placed third in the long jump final, he won the 100 and 200 championships, becoming the first male athlete since Noah Lyles in 2015 to sweep both sprint titles at the U.S. U-20 meet.

Boling, the Gatorade National Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, now has an opportunity to be one of the most decorated performers Friday through Sunday at National Stadium in Costa Rica, both in his individual events and in a relay final, which won’t require any convincing for the U.S. coaches this time around.

“It’s exciting. Especially for me last year in Finland, I was just an alternate on the 4x400 and nobody really expected anything from me,” Boling said. “I wanted to be in the big position so bad, but to be here now, I just know I’m not going to take the opportunity for granted.”

Boling enters the meet as the World U-20 all-conditions leader in both the 100 and 200, with wind-aided marks of 9.98 and 20.30 seconds. He also boasts the top World U-20 wind-legal effort in the 200 at 20.36 and is equal to No. 2 with his wind-legal 10.13 in the 100, along with Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, who will also compete in Costa Rica.

“Not making the long jump was a blessing in disguise, because now I get to focus on the 100, 200 and relays and put all my energy into those events,” Boling said. “With not long jumping twice a week now, I’ve been using those days to really focus on my drive phase and my block starts, both on the curve and off the curve for the 100 and 200.”

Boling is joined on the U.S. roster in the 100 by Penn State freshman Justin Ofotan and in the 200 by North Little Rock High graduate and Arkansas signee Kennedy Lightner.

They’ll be pursuing the 100 meet record Friday of 10.03 produced in 2009 by fellow American Marcus Rowland and taking aim Saturday at the all-time Pan American U-20 performance of 20.13 in the 200 set in 2003 by Jamaican legend Usain Bolt. The U.S. will also attempt Saturday to challenge the 4x100 meet record of 39.06 set in 2009 by another American quartet.

“I know I’m running with the best of the best,” Ofotan said. “Matt Boling isn’t joking around, so I’m ready to get gold with him in the 4x100 and for both of us to get medals in the 100.”

Lyles was the last American male athlete to medal in both the 100 and 200 four years ago at the Pan American U-20 Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Boling had the potential to compete against Lyles, now an adidas professional, at the USATF Outdoor Championships on July 25-28 in Des Moines, Iowa, but decided instead to focus on his pursuit of history at the Pan American U-20 Championships.

Only three individuals, all Americans, have captured gold in the men’s 100, 200 and 4x100 relay in the same year in meet history. Carl Lewis was the first to achieve the feat in the inaugural Pan American U-20 Championships in 1980, followed by Joe DeLoach in 1984 and Bryan Bridgewater in 1989.

Canada’s Dave Tomlin swept 100 and 200 gold medals in 1995, with Jamaica’s Dwight Thomas also accomplishing the sprint double in 1999, although neither individual was victorious in the 4x100 relay.

“The Georgia coaches and I talked and we just thought it would be a good time for me to go to the U-20 meet and try to break those records with people my age,” Boling said. “The senior team would be really hard to make and even if I did, it would be pretty late in the season, so that was the attraction toward the U-20 meet.”

Boling is one of four American athletes with an opportunity to compete in multiple individual events in Costa Rica, along with Tedreauna Britt of Ole Miss in the women’s discus throw and shot put, in addition to Kentucky teammates Joshua Sobota in the men’s discus and shot put, as well as Masai Russell in the women’s 100- and 400-meter hurdles.

And if he can pull off the first American sweep of both men’s sprint titles in three decades, Boling will have completed his year-long quest by taking advantage of the biggest opportunities of his young career.

“I wanted to go faster (in Florida), but I still have Pan Ams and that’s where I’m gearing up to do it, so I know that I can still go faster when I’m fresh,” Boling said. “I’m going to give it my best and whatever happens, happens, but I’m going to be giving it everything I’ve got in the 100, 200 and the relays.”