Positive attitude pushes runner

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- Senior Gunther Matzinger, New Ulm High School's top cross country runner, has an attitude at the age of 16 -- a positive one.

Despite being born with only a partial right arm, Matzinger developed a positive attitude growing up in Salzburg, Austria, that has stuck with him over the miles to help him become successful in New Ulm.

"He's a hard worker in practice and pushes himself in meets," Eagle cross country coach Sarah Shaw said. "He is a positive thinker and gives it his best."

Matzinger challenges himself in cross country, but according to Matzinger, he joined cross country mostly to keep in shape, and because he likes runing. He also plans on competing in track and field in the spring -- a sport he is quite familiar with because of his involvement in it in Austria.

"Well, it's just nice, because you get to know other people and have team spirit," Matzinger said. "It also gives me something to do in the afternoon."

Matzinger also will be on the math team and will work out for the upcoming track season with Noah Bernhardson this winter.

For five or six years, Matzinger has been on a track and field club team in Salzburg, Austria, at the Österreichischer Turner Bund (ÖTB). In Austria, like most places in Europe, students do not participate in sports through school; they must join a club.

Matzinger also was in gymnastics at ÖTB at an early age, but when they handed out leaflets about the track team, he decided to try it out.

Matzinger's choice of running sports had much to do with preference and nothing to do with the fact that he was born with his right arm ending just below the elbow.

"[I found out] I preferred that to gymnastics," Matzinger said. "I liked running."

In fact, Matzinger says that his lack of two full arms has not really prevented him from doing much of anything. When he was in gymnastics, he participated in parallel bars, high bar and tumbling.

Possibly because of his easygoing style, other people don't seem to make a big deal about Matzinger's apparent disadvantage either. Or maybe it's because it isn't really a disadvantage, or at least isn't treated as one by Matzinger.

"I'm used to it -- I can do pretty much everything," he said. "Sometimes people are surprised by what I can do."

Though it may or may not affect Matzinger's participation in other things, Shaw believes it may give him a mental advantage.

"I think overcoming obstacles in other places teaches you personal strength and how to push yourself," Shaw said. "It helps in cross country -- you learn to push through the pain and accomplish your goals."

One goal Matzinger has is to finish in less than 19 minutes in the 5,000 meter race. His personal best is 19:13, and he fully expects to do well at the Section 2AA meet.

"They say it's a flat course -- faster -- we had hills on the other courses," Matzinger explained.

"Litchfield is a fast course; lots of runners had personal records by far last year," Shaw said. She expects more from Matzinger than he expects at the section meet. "He should be able to run a very low 18. That should put him [finishing] a little over the top third."

Looking toward spring, Matzinger would like to try some different things in track and field. In the past, he has run the 110-meter hurdles, but this year, he would like to try the 300 hurdles. He is also considering the mile. In the past, he has also run the 100-meter dash, the 200, and participated in the long and high jump.

"I think he's built as a distance runner -- he's suited to it," Shaw said. "Physically, he's at home in a distance race like this."

Shaw has been pleased, but not surprised at how Matzinger has performed throughout the cross country season. That high level of performance should carry over into the track and field season.

"He's consistent from meet to meet," she said. "He started as our second runner, and he's steadily improved and is our top runner now."

Matzinger and the Eagles will run at the Section 2AA cross country meet at 3:45 p.m. today in Litchfield.