Mathis running a cross country meet Olivia Mathis
Confidence is something that is instinctive and not taught. Junior distance runner Olivia Mathis, ever since she started running track back when she was in seventh grade, track has made Mathis become confident as time went on.
“This sport has helped me gain confidence in myself in a way. Confidence in the way I train, run and compete,” said Mathis.
As a child, Mathis was a shy kid. She tried a variety of sports and found her passion in seventh grade. Once Mathis found track, she found it to be therapeutic.
Mathis said she stuck with the sport “and it has helped shape who I am today.”
As much as track can look aesthetic when seeing competitors race by at blazing speeds, it requires a lot of technique and hard work.
Mathis’ inspiration to do what she does is her family, but mainly her sister and seeing her run when Mathis was growing up.
“I watched my sister running growing up, and her coach always wanted me to get into running just like her,” Mathis mentioned of her older sister.
Track is one of the hardest sports when it comes down to the technicality. From stride to simply how you drive off of the ground, the form is what determines how fast these athletes go. Along with how long the body can withstand the amount of energy exerted.
“With track and cross country you have to stay in shape, while keeping your body intact. It is very tough on the body, training and lifting almost every day with very little breaks,” said Mathis when talking about the challenges of track.
Along with running track, Mathis also runs cross country.
Cross country, in its own way, is just as difficult as track. In Track, you’re running on flat terrain unless the track has bends, in cross country you could be running up hill, down hill, in mud, and more; the possibilities are endless.
So when an athlete competes in track or cross country, when they beat their personal best it is a great achievement. Mainly because beating a personal best in an event can be hard especially when an athlete consistently hits a spot for so long, and they finally get a break it is a great feeling.
When asked about her achievements in the sports, Mathis said, “…achieving some personal records I never thought I could hit…”
Mathis is no stranger to achievements either. When she attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in her hometown of Canton, OH. Mathis won state in her senior year of high school. So when college came around, with a state championship under her belt, choosing to run track and keep doing what she loves was an easy decision.
Prior to coming to Saint Xavier, Mathis attended Lourdes University in Sylvania, OH.
In her first year attending Saint Xavier, she qualified for nationals in the 800m race, along with her teammate Junior distance runner Lexi Clarke.
“It has been great. It has definitely given me self confidence and allowed me to continue a sport
I’m both excited and passionate about it,” said Mathis when talking about her journey as an athlete.
All athletic journeys have their own routes and deadends, but the work put in and memories will always last forever.
“Being able to improve and see my hard work finally paying off is something I’m very ecstatic and grateful for,” said Mathis.
Mathis’ positive attitude and sportsmanship towards the sport and her teammates resides in her, and are qualities that she believes make a great college athlete.
By reciprocating those qualities in her daily life, her confidence grows as she grows as an athlete.
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