Former El Capitan High track star shares his experience competing in U.S. Olympic Trials

Former El Capitan High track & field standout Brian Matthews had an opportunity of a lifetime last month with a shot at making the United States Olympic team.

Matthews, 22, competed in the 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene, Ore. in June.

Matthews reached the semifinals before bowing out with a 16th-place finish, which fell short of making the U.S. team and competing in at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

However, one of the many things Matthews took from his experience: He can compete with the world’s best.

“It was an amazing experience,” said Matthews, who graduated from El Capitan in 2019. “There were a lot of big names there and seeing them on the same track as me and warming up together, it was a complete blessing to be there. There was never a feeling of I don’t belong here.”

Matthews was honored at the Merced City Council Meeting on Monday for his performance at the Olympic Trials as a graduate of Weaver Middle School and El Capitan High School.

“His talent, dedication, and commitment have left a lasting impact on the programs and teams he’s been a part of,” the City of Merced posted on Facebook .

Matthews was one of two former Merced County athletes to compete at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Oregon in June. Former Atwater High star and BYU graduate Abraham Alvarado reached the finals, finishing eighth in the 800 meters.

Matthews walked on to the West Point Track & Field team as a freshman in 2019 after graduating from El Capitan.

Journey to Olympic Trials

He spent his first two seasons at West Point overcoming adversity as he suffered through injuries both years. He tore both of his hamstrings his freshmen year and then suffered a stress reaction in his foot which sidelined him most of his sophomore year.

He finished strong his final two years, including setting the West Point 400-meter indoor record and then excelled in the 400-hurdles his senior year.

Matthews qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials with a 400-hurdle time of 50.92 seconds, which he earned while competing for Army at a track meet in Virginia this spring.

The top 35 times in the country earn a trip to the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials.

Matthews was hoping to compete at the NCAA Track & Field Championships, but fell short at the NCAA East Regional in Kentucky.

“I was in lane nine and I had a plan to position myself perfectly, coming around the curve for the last 100 (meters),” Matthews said. “I’m in perfect position and then I clicked the hurdle and everything kind of fell apart from there.”

Disappointed after not making the NCAA championships, Mattews flew back the next day for his graduation at West Point. He said it was tough because he wasn’t mentally present during the commencement ceremony, even while shaking the hand of President Joe Biden.

Matthews returned home to Merced after graduation to begin training with his former high school coach Rafeeq Hassaan. Matthews still knew the U.S. Olympic Trails was the bigger picture.

Reunited with high school coach

Hassaan has been coaching Matthews since he was 10 years old. He coach him through high school, helping lead the El Capitan boys track team to a Sac-Joaquin Section championship.

“It’s been an amazing journey,” Hassaan said. “I’ve know Brian since he was 10 years old. Watching him at the Olympic trials, I was filled with a lot of emotion. It couldn’t have happened to a better person. Brian has always been someone who always does things right.”

Since Matthews had only been competing in hurdles for just over a year, Hassaan and Matthews worked on his rhythm and technique on hurdles. They would work out five days a week out at the Merced College track. Sometimes working in triple-digit heat.

Working out in the heat in Merced made running in Oregon easier.

Representing Merced

Matthews had to overcome the nerves of competing against the best in the world, but managed to reach the semifinals by posting a time of 50.81 in the preliminary round.

Matthews crossed the finish line in 50.83 seconds in the semifinals, which gave him a 16th-place finish. It didn’t earn him a spot on the Olympic team but it was a strong performance given that Matthews came into the trial ranked 35th.

“Being able to represent Merced and kind of show people when you put God first and really work hard, anything is possible,” Matthews said. “This was the goal for us, something me and my high school coach talking about since I started running track. So just to be able to make that stage, and then to be able to represent Merced was just a blessing and an honor.”

What’s next?

Matthews will soon head to Georgia to complete some military training. He has a five-year commitment to the Army after West Point, but he plans on running professionally while serving that commitment.

“They have a world class athlete program within the Army that allows for soldier athletes to continue to run professionally for the Army,” Matthews said.

Matthews next goal is to compete at the World Championships in Tokyo in 2025.

Hassaan feels if Matthews continues to work on his craft and get more comfortable running the hurdles, he can do well in Tokyo.

“The World Championships is next,” Hassaan said. “We saw where we needed to improve. I asked him if he sees himself on the podium in Tokyo? He said, ‘Yes.’ Now we just have to work back to figure out how to get there.”

“To finish top 16 after coming in ranked 35th and he’s only been running the hurdles a little over a year? I can’t see him not doing well in Tokyo if he continues to improve and work hard if he stays healthy.”