It took me a long time to realize that, by the time high school is over, a huge chunk of people don’t really have a plan for the rest of their lives. We’re supposed to have some idea, some kind of arc in mind, but for many people, it just doesn’t happen like that.
But Matthew Boling knows where he’s headed — and he’s going there in an awful hurry.
In the world of men’s international sprinting, there’s basically one name: Usain Bolt. Everybody else is just chasing.
There are few athletes as dominant in their sports as the Jamaican sensation. At the height of his career , he simply couldn’t be caught.
He has nine Olympic gold medals and holds world records in the 100m, 200m, and 4 x 100m relay.
He might not be able to catch up to a cheetah, but I’m pretty sure he’s the only human who could even stand the slightest chance to do it.
The question, now that he’s retired, is who will pick up his baton and run with it?
And will that speedy person be able to even trail closely behind his world record times, let alone surpass them?
It’s going to take something special to break Bolt’s record, but a Texas high school student is sure gunning for it.
His name is Matthew Boling.
Or I guess you could call him Matthew Bolting .
And at a recent event, Matthew Boling flashed some brilliance on the track and wowed the crowd, posting a blistering 9.98 at a regional track meet.
That’s just 0.4 seconds off Usain Bolt’s world record of 9.58!
However, as incredible as it is for a high school student to run 100m in under 10 seconds, it won’t stand as a record.
I’m just as confused as you are. Let the kid have his moment!
The Strake Jesuit senior’s race can’t go down as an official time in terms of national records due to a 4.2mph tailwind, but it’s still the fastest time ever posted in any conditions in high school competition.
The official American under 20 record for 100m dash still belongs to Trentavis Friday , who ran it in 10 seconds flat in 2014.
People on Twitter didn’t let that ruin his big moment.
I’m sure there have been tailwinds during other running events, and the fact that he still ran that fast should not be overshadowed!
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Boling says he hasn’t always been speedy, but it’s something he has worked on.
“In middle school, when he was in seventh or eighth grade, it was like watching a deer run,” Matthew’s father told KHOU .
He also noted that he’s not fast on his feet either, giving his son all the credit.
“I would love to be able to claim that it’s genetic — but he just has a work ethic that I’ve never seen from anybody.”
On the day of his big run, things just went right for Matthew.
“It definitely felt good,” he told the Houston Chronicle . “My block start was pretty good and right out of the gate I knew it was going to be fast, so I decided to turn it up a little bit and ran my best. I was really happy with the time.”
No doubt!
Actually, Matthew showed off his athleticism all over the place at that track meet.
In addition to his incredible race, he also won the long jump and anchored the 400m and 1600m relay teams to victory. That’s a big day no matter how you slice it.
His speed has earned him a few nicknames among his peers.
“White Lightning” is the obvious one, but Matthew says there are others, too. “Some people call me the bogeyman. I heard some people calling me the horseman. I’ve heard different stuff,” he said.
Next up for Matthew is the state finals, and after that, he’s off to the University of Georgia in the fall.
Oh, and given the times he’s been posting, don’t be surprised if you see his name at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Check out Matthew’s big race below!
h/t Houston Chronicle , KHOU