Matthew Norton is the 2022 recipient of the Ed Thompson Memorial Scholarship.
LVRR: What college will you attend and intended major of study? Do you plan to run while attending college?
MN: I will be attending Belmont University for Music Business and do not plan to run on the cross country and track teams.
LVRR: What age did you start running and why?
MN: I started running when I was 13 in middle school because my friends convinced me to run cross country.
LVRR: What is your greatest accomplishment in your running career?
MN: My greatest accomplishment in probably making it to States for track.
LVRR: Describe an experience where you had to “sink or swim.” What did you learn from it?
MN: I had to “sink or swim’ when I was injured during XC season, so I wasn’t able to participate post season. I need to learn patience in order to return healthy.
LVRR: Who has been your most influential role model and why?
MN: My most influential role model would be my coach, Page Woodbury, because no matter the circumstances he would always motivate me and push me to the greatest of limits.
LVRR: What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
MN: The most surprising thing about me is that I do not actually enjoy the feeling of running and that I love the sport for its competition.
LVRR: What is one word you would say to someone who has just started running– whether it be a youth in the LVRR Kids Series, or an older individual- about why running is worth it?
MN: Patience. As a leader on the team my senior year, underclassman would ask me how I became a good runner, and I told them to “not only work hard, but to be patient in their training, as I was once in their shoes eager to better my running”.
LVRR: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
MN: I see myself in 10 years with a good paying job, a happy family and enjoying my best life.
LVRR: What events did you run in high school?
MN: In high school I ran cross country 5k and competed in the 800m and 4x800m.
LVRR: What is your favorite event to watch that you don’t do yourself and why?
MN: My favorite is the 4x400m because its always the grand finale and the most universal event of track group events.
LVRR: How do you stay motivated when you don’t want to run?
MN: I think about the bigger picture and my long-term goals towards the sport, like qualifying for States.
LVRR: What are three activities that you enjoy doing apart from running?
MN: I enjoy making music, hanging with friends and lifting weights.
