An old joke asks why cross-country athletes train early in the morning, to which the answer is that they want to finish before their brains can figure out what they are doing. While that may be true for the ordinary runner, for freshman Anya Matz, grueling morning sessions are far from a mindless activity. A freshman on varsity, Matz trains deliberately and carefully, and the results have spoken for themselves throughout the season.
Matz’s work ethic has been evident from the beginning. Despite her job as a camp counselor over the summer, Matz would still check in with head coach Rick Caragher to ask about upcoming practice times. Caragher said, “She has that insatiable appetite for wanting to grow and learn that translates to huge success. ‘Can’t’ doesn’t exist in her vocabulary.”
In her first race of the season, Matz stunned teammates and competition alike, setting a Poly freshman girls’ record of 10:22.2 on the 1.43-mile short course, placing 16th overall at the UCSB Gaucho invitational on Sep. 2.
She ran to success again at the Rosemead Invitational on Sep. 9. With a three-mile time of 21:40, a personal record (PR), she placed 20th overall, earning herself a medal.
On Oct. 28, she competed in the Prep League finals at Pierce College and ended the season on a great note. Setting another PR, she ran a 21:31 minute three-mile, finishing as a medalist in the top ten. This masterful performance capped off a substantial first season for Matz.
With the help of Matz, the girls cross country team went on to win their first Prep League Championship title since 1997, cementing a historic season.
Throughout the season, Matz always raced close to senior teammate Audrey Tomlin, but in the last league race, she was making great pace going into the last mile, so she moved ahead of Tomlin. Caragher said, “This is the right thing to do, but a hard thing for a freshman to think, ‘Okay, I’m always behind the senior. Should I go ahead?’ But she did. And it was the best thing for our team. In that pivotal moment, being independent enough to be making those decisions, but also humble enough to be respectful paid off big time.”
Matz is equally dedicated to the team as she is to her own goals. She’s a reliable runner that rarely misses practice. She cares deeply for her teammates, setting a stellar example of what a young varsity athlete can be.
In just her first season, Matz has undeniably impacted the varsity cross country team. Her determined work ethic boosted her through the season, leading to rapid improvement and success. It’s safe to say that Matz has a bright future ahead of her, in both the cross country program and the Poly community.
