Spotted: Olympic track star Matt Wilkinson at Menlo-Atherton Cross Country practice

Last week, the Menlo-Atherton High School Cross Country team enjoyed a visit from 2024 Olympic track athlete Matt Wilkinson.

Wilkinson talked with the M-A athletes about his journey from a good-but-not-great high school runner — he never qualified for his state track meet in Minnesota — to representing the U.S. in the 3000-meter steeplechase event last month in Paris.

Wilkinson started his college career at Division III Carleton College — a private Minnesota college with a smaller enrollment than Menlo-Atherton. He transferred as a graduate to the University of Minnesota in NCAA Division I, where he won All-American honors. Wilkinson today lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, training with the Under Armour Dark Sky professional team.

Wilkinson shared with the M-A athletes what he’s learned during his career about training, competing, and the importance of sleep and nutrition in his recovery. He also talked about how he’s improved by allowing himself to be confident and have positive thoughts during races based on all the work he’s done during the season.

“It was great for our team to get up close with Matt, one of the top athletes in our sport — he was generous with his time and sharing with us how he got to the Olympic level,” said M-A Cross Country Head Coach Eric Wilmurt.

Photo by John Hale (c) 2024