Matthew Boling 9.98, 19.92, 44.84 and 8.25 LJ

I also think that young male sprinters should focus on their career without the distraction of a girlfriend as they tend to bring drama to a guys life which they don't need at anytime yet alone for a guy trying to be an elite sprinter... just my 2 cents worth.
 
It's only been 3 years since Matthew Boling ran a wind legal sub 10 and sub 20 back in 2022. It's 2025 now and here is to hoping that
they go back to running the 100 and 200 meters. If he does there is no reason he can't get back on track with his career. My hope is
that he can still become a name everyone will remember before he retires. Not gonna ever happen in the 400 meters.

 
Texas Flash said:
He definitely should be focused on the short sprints - I agree. But that's likely not to happen this year.

I figure this:
Despite the lack of progress, so far every year since high school he has improved in at least one event and set a PR. He's also has only been running as a 400m runner for one year. For real success, you have to give it at least two years. The first year you're learning. Its the second year that you can improve from your mistakes as you've gone through the process already. So we are in the second year of the experiment. They're not going to back out now. This year he will be a 400m runner - guaranteed. Whether he sticks with the 400m is something they will evaluate at the end of this season.

Hopefully, he continues his string of consecutive years with a PR, and improves upon his 400m time, and makes the world team at least in the relays. He turns 25 in two months. Next year it would be great to see him then step back down to the 200 and 100. Its an off year so a good time to readjust before three straight years of world championships and olympics for which he will be turning 27, 28 and 29. Kind of an ideal time for him to peak for his career.

His career is not going the way anybody would want, but it can still be turned around and so far he has yet to not make an improvement every single year in at least one event he was focused on. That has to be recognized.
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Just to add a little clarity:
I am not suggesting Boling should run the 400m. I believe he should be running the 100 and 200. But the decision to switch to the 400m was probably made 19 months ago. To make that switch is a two-year commitment because it takes a year to change and then a year to capitalize. Realistically they are going to see it through and that means he will continue to run the 400m this year. Do I think he will become an elite 400m runner? No. Do I think he can improve on his PR of 44.84? Yes, and as long as he stays healthy and keeps his mind right he should. 44.5 is realistic. That should get him on the relay squad. Keep in mind at last year's trials he was the only one in the final that had only been running the 400m for one year. Will he make the open 400m team? Very doubtful.

I think the best we can hope for is that he gets some relay medals, lowers his 400m PR, and increases his speed endurance. Hopefully then next year after reevaluating he goes back to the short sprints and challenges for the US Team in the 100m and 200m.

For this year what's done is done. We should support him in his races and even though we disagree with his choice we should probably lay off the bashing - it wont help.
 
Boling is a great all around sprinter.
To be sub-10, sub-20, and sub-45 is incredible!
Still, I am not sure he can make it to the top, top level in any of these events, to become a championship finalist.
I think his best option is the 200m. But we can't ignore the fact that he started to regress, while the competition progressed.

If his goal is medals, then the 4x400m relay seems to be his best bet.
However, I am personally of the opinion that he should switch to the Long Jump. I think that's his best bet to become an individual medalist. He has natural talent there also, and it's currently a weak event. It will also help his speed and explosiveness, in case he wanted to continue to dabble in the sprints.
 
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44.92 for Boling in his season opener. Improved from last year's 45.23 opener if I'm not mistaken. Here's the timeline I'd like to see for Boling:

2025: Age 25; 400m 44.50 or better; 4x400m World Relay Gold Medal

2026: Age 26; Sub 20.00 200m, Sub 10.00 100m; multi-Diamond League participant

2027: Age: 27; Sub 19.85 200m, Sub 9.90 100m; 4X100m World Relay Gold Medal, participant in at least one individual event (100m, 200m), 4x400m World Relay Gold Medal

2028: Age 28; Sub 19.65 200m, Sub 9.85 100m; 4x100m Oly Relay Gold Medal; medal winner in at least one individual event (100m, 200m), 4x400m Oly Relay Gold Medal.

None of the above is guaranteed but it is all possible. My hope is this is their plan. Its certainly their plan for 2025.
 
According to the World Athletics website, here is Boling's outdoor season so far:

100 meters
4/12 10.25 (1.8w)
4/12 10.40 (1.4w)
5/03 10.31 (3.0w)
5/09 10.29 (1.6w)

200 meters
4/12 20.51 (2.6w)
4/18 20.71 (-1.0w)
5/02 20.48 (2.1w)
5/09 20.33 (1.2w)

400 meters
4/19 44.92
 
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If his focus is on the 400 why is he running all the 100’s and 200’s and only 1 400 so far? Maybe there is a strategy to it?
 
None of Bolings times except the 400m time are any good and even that time is average for the mens 400m. I am more and more thinking there is something physically wrong with him.
 
Yes, it's not too late. But he has been mostly running the 100m and 200m this year, and his performances have been mediocre (see his times this year, listed above)
 
jacknyc said:
Yes, it's not too late. But he has been mostly running the 100m and 200m this year, and his performances have been mediocre (see his times this year, listed above)
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He needs to learn how to run loose. I honestly think perhaps the pressure got to him as well as the horrible coaching he got at Georgia.
 
If anything, probably the pressure. And I think Boling is the kind of guy that puts a lot of pressure on himself.
And you're right, he is very tense when he runs. It doesn't help.
But what kind of coaching did he get in Texas from a high school coach? Was it better than at the University of Georgia? Even though he trained for the 400m in high school, he still became a 100m phenom.
My point being, that he had tons of natural speed. That has seemingly diminished.
We'll just have to wait and see...
 
It's not too late for Boling if he gives up the 400 meters. Here is why? In the 400 meters he can barely get into the high 44's. That is only a little above average. He is almost a full second slower than the top guys in the world. He will not get that much faster with his body type. I could see on his best day of his career possibly a 44.50 to 44.60 and even that is not a given.

However in the 100 & 200 meters he has gone sub 10 and sub 20. Yes it's been over 3 years but it can happen again. Boling needs to find a new coach. It's amazing to me that neither of his last 2 coach's have taught him how to relax. We all know he runs tight and this slows his natural speed down. If he can run loose again the speed will come back.

A new coach can focus on the short sprints. Also to teach him how to relax while sprinting. If he can learn this on a consitant basis then it's not too late yet. At 26 he has no time to waste. GIVE UP THE 400 METERS EXPERIMENT FOREVER. GET A NEW COACH & LEARN TO RELAX!
 
I think he can go sub 10 and sub 20 again too if he changes coaches. We sound like broken records but we said it with Lemaitre and we’ve been saying it with Boling for years now. I think the talent is there but it’s up to him if he wants to pursue it. He may not really care about it as much as we do to be honest. He also may have just peaked early. It happens to black sprinters too. There are a lot who ran low 10’s or high 9.9s and looked like future elites, but then just kind of faded away. Erryon knighton is an example of a guy who is regressing. Sometimes it just happens to sprinters.
 
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