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Matthew Boling’s Amazing Comeback: Wins NCAA Indoor Championships and Achieves 6th Fastest Time in History
Incredible upset at NCAA Track and Field Championships: Matthew Boling secures a new personal record and 6th fastest time in history
The NCAA Track and Field Championships are widely known as one of the most prestigious and competitive events in every athletics campaign. With only the world’s best finding their way onto this coveted podium, the 2023 indoor championships were no exception. Yet, despite stiff competition and a season marked by struggle, Matthew Boling managed to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the year.
A new personal record and 6th fastest indoor athlete of all time
Boling’s 20.12-second finish in the men’s 200 meters dash secured a new personal record and placed him as the 6th fastest indoor athlete to ever compete. Although Boling had already won the 2021 indoor championships and had been ranked as the number one athlete in the world for the previous three seasons, his 2023 season was far from what he had been doing since the beginning of his collegiate campaign.
A season marked by struggle and stiff competition
Unlike his past two seasons, Boling’s struggle was very real in the 200 meters. Heading into the finals, he was only ranked 7th in the NCAA rankings, behind a class of athletes that was setting a strong standard for the top ten. Bowling’s personal record from 2021 would have only placed him in fourth place. Yet, despite the odds, Boling ran a new personal record when it mattered most and became a two-time indoor 200 meters collegiate champion.
The importance of form in Boling’s victory
For this specific video, two aspects of Boling’s running made this victory possible. The first has to do with Boling’s form. Boling’s ability to relax and run smoothly played a crucial role in his top performances. Throughout the opening 100 meters and especially down the finishing 50, Boling looked calm, and collected, and, most importantly, he did not look as though he was having a heart attack. Sprinting requires relaxation in order to run fast, and Boling’s ability to maintain a steady and smooth tempo played a significant role in his success.
The importance of relaxation and minimal strain in Boling’s victory
Another race where Boling showcased incredible relaxation was his outdoor 200 meters personal record from April 23 of 2022 at the Georgia Tech Invitational. He ran a time of 19.92 seconds into a slight headwind. Every time one sees this race, it is a reminder that Boling’s 200 meters potential when he is not tensing up is well under 19.90. In large part, this finishing time was because he relaxed possibly better than he ever has in the past. These two races are probably the best examples of when Boling achieved impressive times while maintaining a steady and smooth tempo.
Final thoughts
Despite the odds stacked against him, Boling managed to secure a new personal record and 6th fastest time in history. Boling’s ability to relax and maintain a steady and smooth tempo played a crucial role in his success. The importance of relaxation in sprinting cannot be overstated, and Boling’s ability to do so while running at his fastest is a testament to his hard work and dedication.