03 Jul 2024 Fox sets UALR record en route to silver medal at Canada’s Olympic Trials

MONTREAL, Quebec — Little Rock junior Matthew Fox wrapped up a banner competition year with a silver medal finish at the Bell Track & Field Olympic Trials in Canada last weekend. Although he was unable to meet the qualifying standard for the 2024 Summer Games, Fox managed to break a school record on a grand stage while representing his school and country.

Fox finished second in the Senior Men’s Decathalon, winning three of the 10 events and finishing among the Top 5 in three more. Fox tallied a total of 7099 points, finishing behind only Cole Wilson, who won the event with 7558 points.

“Second place at the Canadian Olympic Trials is an incredible accomplishment for Matt. I could not be more proud to see all of his hard work pay off, said J.P. Behnke, Little Rock Director of Track & Field / Cross Country. “Going into the meet, we knew top three was a strong possibility even though hitting the Olympic standard would be tough. He finished the last two events (javelin and 1500m) with huge personal bests to move up from 5th to 2nd and make the podium.”

Fox won the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.73, finished first in the javelin with a best throw of 63.43 meters (208-01) and won the shot put with a throw of 13.21 meters (43-04.25). His time in the hurdles is good for the seventh-fastest time in Little Rock program history and tops his previous personal best of 14.77, set earlier this year.

His best javelin throw of the weekend shattered his own school record of 62.16 meters, set earlier this year at UCA. It’s just the second throw of 60+ meters in school history.