"Mr. 3:57" Interview with UK/St. Xavier's Matt Hillenbrand

 

Matt Hillenbrand, 2010 St. Xavier High School graduate, did something pretty big last weekend in case someone has not heard by now.  The current University of Kentucky senior ran a 3:57 Mile becoming only the 2nd Kentuckian to run a SUB 4 (joining another St. Xavier alum Bobby Curtis, Villanova University.) 

Hillenbrand has had an amazing story in a sense as a pretty decent high school runner to the fastest Kentuckian ever.  His junior year is where it really started as he became a name to watch but not a name to fear per se.  He showed flashes of potential, the 3:07 1200m lead leg in the Distance Medley at Eastern Relays (4:10 conversion to 1600m), a 4:26/9:32 double at a St. Xavier weekday meet, and winning the Nike Outdoor Nationals Emerging Elite 800m in a huge PR 1:54.31.  State was hit and miss for him that year as he won a state title as a member of the 4x800m Relay, but then was 6th in the 800m, 20th in the 1600m, and 23rd in the 3200m individually.

That December after his senior XC season (12th overall in Class AAA) he committed to the University of Kentucky.  Then his senior track season saw success but not the same flashes.  He did PR in the 1600m with a 4:23 in Alabama but only ran 1:57 in the 800m that year.  He finished 14th overall that year in the 800m running 2:03.59.  (Tremendous race with 7 under 2 flat with 3 under 1:54.)

After graduation he moved on to Lexington where he popped off a 4:10 as a freshman, 4:17 at SEC Indoors to finish 16th.  His sophomore year he ran 4:06.33, his junior 4:00.23 and a SEC Indoor Championship.  The times kept falling 3:41.48 1500m last June (converts to 3:59.13) making sub 4 this indoor season the  next logical step.  Well that day came last Saturday (WATCH THE RACE VIDEO.)

Congratulations to Matt, the University of Kentucky, and St. Xavier High School!!

 

 

Matt was kind enough to answer some questions this week about running a 3:57.  Check them out below:

 

KY: First of off, huge congrats!

KY: How does it feel to be the fastest distance runner in the history of the great state of Kentucky?

MH: Thanks Jonathan, I realize that there is a lot of history in the state and it is an honor to be able to represent the state I grew up in on a national level. That is part of the reason I stayed in Kentucky for my collegiate career, I wanted to be able to represent the state to the best of my ability. The support I have received over the last four years has been unbelievable and I can only hope it continues moving forward.

 

KY: What were your immediate thoughts when you crossed the line and saw the 3:57?

MH: My first thought was that it was a huge relief to finally break the 4 minute barrier and run a National qualifying time. It was something that has taunted me since last fall and I knew that race (Iowa State) would have been one of my last chances while in college. I have put an emphasis on chasing records this season and leaving my mark at the University of Kentucky. For me, it was just a culmination of hard work and dedication over the past 8 years of my career and it feels great knowing that I have accomplished one of the things I had set to achieve.

 

KY: If you go back to graduation day from St. Xavier and tell yourself that you are going to be a sub-4 miler. What would you have said back then? Was it some you thought was a possibility?

MH: If I had told myself that I was going to be a sub-4 miler I would have a very difficult time believing it. I put in a lot of hard work while in high school but the results never seemed to prove it. As a possibility?

I certainly thought it was possible. If I didn’t think it was tangible, I would have never fallen in love with the sport and continued in college. The great thing about this sport is that it commonly rewards those who work hard.

 

KY: St. Xavier Head XC Coach Chuck Medley has told me many times he knew you would be UK's next sub 4 miler. Thoughts on hearing that?

MH: Coach Medley is a huge influence in my life and ever since I started running as a high school freshman I listened to all his advice as if it were gold. Even in college, I would periodically get text messages after races saying that it was going to happen soon. I am just glad that I can help his tradition and legacy and be a product of his training. I feel that it lets younger St. X guys know it is a possibility.

 

KY: What has trained in your workouts from this last year to this season.

MH: As for training, not much has changed over the year. Between my sophomore and junior year I took large jumps in training with upping mileage and living more of the running lifestyle. Since then I have had steady training and I started to believe in the process that Coach Graham and I often talk about.