Matthew Edwards saved his best for his final high school meet.
A senior at The Classical Academy, Edwards shattered the course record at the 3A state cross-country meet, finishing in 15:20.7 for the gold medal.
The individual state title was his second, as he also won in 2021 as a sophomore — but that time was more than 13 seconds slower than his 2023 race. His contributions also helped the Titans win their third team state title in a row.
Edwards is the Peak Performer of the Year for boys cross-country.
“I’ve worked my whole life, every year since I was 4, to get to the point that I’m at,” Edwards said. “It means so much.”
The key to Edwards’ consistent progress? A never-ending season.
ABOVE AND LEFT: Peak Performer cross country runner Matthew Edwards of The Classical Academy poses for a portrait Dec. 15 at The Gazette’s studio in Colorado Springs.
Photos by Gabi Broekema, THE GAZETTEEven after TCA’s official season ends — usually in late October — Edwards is hard at work.
Since his freshman year, Edwards has run six days a week, taking Sundays off, for most of the off-season. Edwards admitted that he tapers that regimen in the weeks leading up to cross country, with only two workouts and a long run every week.
And not only does Edwards compete against Colorado’s best runners throughout the season, he often runs against the nation’s best.
Edwards has run in several meets outside of Colorado during his high-school offseasons. Most recently, he placed 29th at the Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals in San Diego earlier in December.
“I love competing against very good runners,” Edwards said. “It’s that internal want of reaching the next level.”
In addition to the individual goals Edwards had entering the 2023 cross country season, he hoped to aid TCA in its continued dominance of the 3A level. And he did just that.
The Titans placed four runners in the top 20 at state and finished 86 points ahead of second-place Berthoud.
He plans to run at the Air Force Academy. The Falcons have qualified for the NCAA national meet in five of the past seven years and placed 12th as a team in 2023.
Between multiple family members and friends who have attended the Air Force Academy, the academic rigor it offers and its proximity to home, Edwards saw the program as the right fit.
“It will be an incredible experience,” Edwards said.
While Edwards will no longer don the blue and red pennies with the word “Titans” written in front, he will go down as one of the Titans’ best runners ever.
And as he departs from the program, he hopes his legacy — of hard work and success — motivates younger runners.
“I hope that I can inspire them by showing them that hard work always pays off,” Edwards said. “One bad or good race doesn’t define you. Stay humble with those around you and don’t elevate yourself.”
“TCA has a history of being a good team, and this year we took it above and beyond,” Edwards said. “The team atmosphere helped push us to greatness and take me higher.”
Between his strenuous off-season schedule, participation in national meets and team bond at TCA, Edwards feels prepared for his next step: running in college.
