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Saint Leo University Athletics

THE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC WEBSITE OF THE SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY LIONS

2016 Men's Cross Country

Rafal Matuszczak

  • Height 5-8
  • Weight 141
  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Wschowa, Poland
  • High School Tomasz Zan Secondary School

Biography

AS A SENIOR (2016)
U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II All-America honoree, the first men’s cross country All-American in Saint Leo history… USTFCCCA All-South Region… All-Sunshine State Conference selection…
Saint Leo’s top finisher in the NCAA Championship (11/19) with a time of 31:19.5 and crossed the line 39th overall… competed in seven events for the Lions during the 2016 season, scoring points in six of those… posted a time of 31:55.8 at the NCAA South Region Championship (11/5) and finished sixth overall to take All-South Region honors… third-place finisher at the Sunshine State Conference Championship (10/22) with a time of 24:55.31… fastest 8K time of the season was 24:52 at the Lehigh Paul Short Run (10/1), good enough to finish 99th overall... third at the Saint Leo National Preview (10/8) with a time of 26:58.0.

AS A JUNIOR (2015)
All-Sunshine State Conference selection…
finished second overall at the Sunshine State Conference Championship (10/24), clocking a time of 25:39.30… competed in seven events for the Lions… third among Saint Leo finishers at the NCAA Championship (11/21) with a time of 32:00.80 – third-fastest in Saint Leo history… ran in seven events for the Lions in 2015… Saint Leo’s top finisher in three events – the Southeastern Fire Short Course Invitational 6K (9/4), the UF Mountain Dew Invitational 8K (9/19), and the Lehigh Univ. Paul Short Run 8K (10/2)… recorded a time of 25:19 at the prestigious Paul Short Run and crossed the line 85th overall… finished 16th overall the UF Mountain Dew Invite with a time of 26:19.15… took SSC Runner of the Week honors in the first week of the 2015 season for his time of 19:41.80 at the Fire Short Course meet, where he finished second overall.

AS A FRESHMAN (2013)
Made an immediate impact on the Lion's roster.... Named to the 2013 SSC All-Cross Country team...Awarded All Regional Honors... Finished in the top 15 in six of the eight races he competed in... Reached the Saint Leo All-Time Record Books for the 10K (4th all-time), 8K(2n, 5th, and 10th all-time), and 5K (1st and 5th all-time).

CAREER
Competed with the LLKS Osowa Sien... Coached by Andrzej Orlowski... Placed first in the Polish Youth Cross Country Championships in 2011... Was a participant of the European Cross Country Championships.

PERSONAL 
Born July 13 in Glogow, Poland... Hobbies include playing the guitar, listening to rock music, and mountain trekking... Goal is to become a better runner and improve personal best times... Believes his best asset to the team is his perseverance... Names his favorite athletes as Marcin Lewandowski and Luis Figo... Claims his favorite team as Real Madrit... Chose Saint Leo because of the location and academic and athletic reputation... Son of Mieczyslaw and Justyna... Has one brother, Arkadiusz. 

Historical Player Information

  • 2013Freshman

    5'8" 141 lbs
  • 2014Sophomore

    5'8" 141 lbs
  • 2015Junior

    5'8" 141 lbs
  • 2016Senior

    5'8" 141 lbs