Feature on Matt McClelland 19

SIUC cross country runner Matt McClelland has been labeled as a model of consistency by Saluki coach Bill Cornell because of his solid performance in four races this fall.

McClelland has contributed two top-10 finishes this year and has been the Salukis’ No. 4 runner or better in every meet.

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At the Saluki Invitational Saturday, McClelland finished in fifth place out of 97 runners with a time of 25 minutes and 47 seconds to help the team win the Saluki Invitational.

In the first meet of the year, Sept. 6 at Carbondale, McClelland contributed an eighth-place finish out of 32 runners with a time of 26:07 to help the Salukis defeat the University of Kansas and Lindenwood College.

Matt is a very consistent runner who keeps improving and has continued to step up for us, Cornell said.

One reason McClelland has continued to be consistent is because he has avoided injuries and stayed mentally positive.

I try to stay healthy with both the emotional and physical part of it, McClelland said. I want to stay injury-free and continue to get better.

McClelland said running has built his character and keeps him busy.

Running makes me stronger mentally and physically, McClelland said. It also keeps me out of trouble and allows me to travel and see different places.

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Cornell said McClelland’s personality makes him easy to coach and get along with.

He’s a very easy-going guy, Cornell said. He’s a quiet type of person and is very conscientious about being successful.

McClelland, a sophomore in agriculture education from Rushville, said his goals for this year include a successful showing at the Nov. 1 Missouri Valley Conference meet.

Personally, I would like to go under 25 minutes and make all-conference, McClelland said. I want the team to win conference and would like to have all five guys in the top 10.

Freshman teammate Chris Owen said McClelland is always prepared for the meet.

He’s always pretty relaxed and laid back before the meet, but he is a tenacious racer and great competitor, Owen said. When the race starts, he’s ready to rock and roll.

One of the main reasons McClelland came to SIUC was because of the cross country program and the school environment.

McClelland attributes his easy adaptation to SIUC partly to Cornell.

He’s a really good coach who has taught me that he can only teach training, so he lets us learn to go on our own a lot, McClelland said.

McClelland said staying focused on both academics and athletics can be a difficult task, but it is not as hard as it may seem.

At times, it can be hard because you travel so much, but if you keep yourself straight-laced and attend your classes, it’s not that hard, McClelland said.

McClelland was the Illinois High School Association cross country and 1600-meter state champion in Class A competition his junior year in high school. He also led Rushville High School to a second-place finish in the state meet in track and field his senior year.

Cornell said he expected good things to come from McClelland when McClelland first arrived at SIUC.

We looked for high things after he won state in both cross country and track, Cornell said. He is used to winning and has continued to be very successful.

McClelland started running in grade school, when his physical education teacher recognized McClelland’s potential.

In sixth grade, my P.E. teacher told me to go out for track and I ended up going to state in the mile and 800-meter races, McClelland said.

McClelland said he enjoys spending his recreational time in the outdoors.

When I’m not running I like to hunt, fish and farm back at my home in Rushville, McClelland said.

After McClelland graduates he plans on leaving Carbondale and getting into education.

I plan on going back home after graduating and teach either ag or science, and help my dad work on the farm, McClelland said.

McClelland and the Salukis will not be in action until Oct. 18 at the Chili Pepper Invite in Fayetteville, Ark.