Charlie Matarese, an incoming freshman at La Cañada High School, played a key role in winning a national title when he recently competed in the USATF National Track and Field Junior Olympic Championships at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.
Matarese, along with Pacific Coast Shockwaves teammates Michael Scarince, Taye Newman and Francisco Lozano, won the national championship in the 4×800-meter relay, blowing away competition that had previously triumphed in state and regional meets across the country.
Matarese also recently competed in the Brooks PR Middle School National Championship in the individual 800, where he finished fifth against top competition. Brooks invites the top eight high school and middle school runners in each event to compete in its prestigious meet.
The coveted invitation includes travel expenses, hotel costs and a collection of Brooks running shoes and apparel.
“The best part of Brooks PR was getting to meet and hang out with the top high school runners in the country,” Matarese said. Many of the competitors have already qualified for world championship teams.
First published in the August 10 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
