FREMONT – Standing in the starting box in the minutes before the start of the Division I state cross country meet, Matt Kuyken looked down the opening stretch of race and knew this wasn’t just any other meet.
Matt Kuyken
“I looked down the start and there was not a spot on the fence that wasn’t filled with a person and everyone was yelling and screaming,” Kuyken said. “It was kind of nerve-wracking, a little bit, the first time.”
A year ago, as a junior, Kuyken ran a time of 16 minutes, 44 second, placing him 114th out of nearly 200 runners.
This Saturday afternoon, he’ll run the final cross country race of his high school career and he’ll do so with the experience of having been there before and knowing what to expect from the sport’s biggest stage.
“It settles my nerves a little bit, knowing I’ve been there before,” Kuyken said. “I have the experience there, it gives more confidence for the race.
“Last year, it’s like ‘These are the best of the best,’ you kind of wonder if you really belong there, you know? This year, I’m faster, older, stronger and definitely prepared and ready to go and to prove I belong there.”
Ross cross county coach John Elder said he is looking forward to seeing the benefit experience has on the only Little Giant still running.
Matt Kuyken nears the finish line of a meet from earlier this season.
“I’m really excited for him because I really wanted him to go back because he knows the course,” Elder said. “I think he can really have potential to have an outstanding race in Columbus this weekend.”
Feeling at ease with the meet and the level of competition he’ll be running against, Kuyken expects to end his season on a high note.
“I would like to break 16 minutes and place in the top 50,” said Kuyken, whose season best is a 16:01 at the Tiffin Carnival – another large meet. “I definitely should be able to. It’s a very flat and fast course. I should be able to.”
When he does cross the finish line, his Little Giant cross country career will have reached the end.
“It’s a good feeling, but it’s also kind of sad, it’s over after this,” Kuyken said. “I’m ready to leave it all out there.”