West Valley’s Wheeler Tries A Little Mind Control Runner Developing Mental Toughness

A year ago as the No. 4 runner on West Valley’s cross country team, Matt Wheeler was content to let his pain threshold dictate his performance.

“When you race, it is mind over body,” said Wheeler. “You have to tell yourself you’re not feeling like crap and run through it. Last year I settled for how I felt.”

Things have changed this season for the Eagle senior. In four outings Wheeler, now West Valley’s No. 1 runner, hasn’t let pain stand in the way of a good run.

Included was last weekend’s race victory at the Wenatchee Invitational and Thursday’s near course-record time in the rain during WV’s initial Frontier League meet.

“He’s where potentially he could be,” said his coach, Jim McLachlan. “He’s really got some talent.”

Wheeler’s times have gone from the mid-17:00 range to 16:17 for three miles while winning in Wenatchee.

Most of his teammates are back from last year and improved, witness Thursday’s easy victory over likely contender Riverside, but they’ve found themselves chasing him.

“Matt set pretty big goals,” said McLachlan. “He’s starting to realize the rewards.”

Teammate Levi Lounder got Wheeler to run cross country in the seventh grade, but as an eighth grader he played football instead. In the ninth grade he was reluctant to turn out at West Valley, waiting until the first week of school to do so.

By his sophomore season he was on varsity and ran as the No. 4 runner for two years until this season.

Wheeler, who plays soccer rather than run track in the spring, didn’t train seriously for cross country until putting in extra miles this summer.

“Allen (Watke) and I didn’t train that much the summers before,” Wheeler said.

He set for himself the goal of being the team’s number one runner and in so doing had to chase after returning teammates Clayton Holmes, Watke and Lounder.

He credits an Eagle team camp race, in which he overcame his tendency to let up when he felt bad, with giving him confidence.

“Wenatchee was a breakthrough,” said Wheeler. “It surprised me. Now I know what I can do.”

This year fellow seniors Wheeler, Watke and Lounder, junior Holmes and freshman Sean McLachlan have all ran under 17 minutes in their Frontier League meet.

“Our sights are set on good things,” said Wheeler.

McLachlan likes the makeup of his team which took a step toward a Frontier League championship by beating Riverside.

The returnees, like Wheeler, trained hard during the summer. Newcomer McLachlan has fit in.

“Last year we were kind of disheveled. The chemistry was not there,” he said.

A team camp at the University of Oregon helped bring the runners together and bring out the best in their abilities, Wheeler in particular.

“He’s a different kid this year,” said McLachlan. “He’s in good shape and running smarter. That attitude has been infectious.”

West Valley’s boys cross country team, said the coach, is more completely focused than any he’s had in the last three years.

Thursday’s 17-40 victory over the Rams, with Wheeler leading the way, was a perfect example.

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