Morris Hills, Stevens Tech graduate Laura Mathews wins NCAA hurdles title
Laura Mathews hadn't competed in the heptathlon before her final season at Stevens Tech. She was a sprinter and hurdler at Morris Hills, and stuck with the same events in college.
But before Mathews started her fifth year of NCAA eligibility last fall, she asked Stevens coach John Kolibab if she could step up. It meant learning five new events, but Mathews was ready for a challenge.
Mathews showed off the result of all that work by capturing an NCAA Division III championship late Saturday night. Mathews won the 100-meter hurdles in a personal-best 13.67 seconds, persisting after a three-hour rain delay between the semis and the final.
Mathews is Stevens' first NCAA track and field champion since Whippany Park alumna Gina Dello Russo in the outdoor 400 meters in 2021.
"I couldn't be happier. It's just the perfect end to my collegiate career," said Mathews, who wore high socks printed with ducks − the university's mascot − and carried "Gary the Good-Luck Duck" with her on the awards podium.
"I've tried other events: done the 200 a lot, worked on my heptathlon, but the hurdles is my favorite. To end on a national championship in that is the icing on the cake."
Heptathlon heroine
Mathews ran the hurdles prelim right before her last heptathlon event, posting a wind-aided record of 13.61. The final was held the following day at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach.
Matthews also placed fifth in the heptathlon with a new school record of 4,906 points. She won both the 100 hurdles and the 200 meters in the heptathlon, and had personal bests in javelin and the 800.
Mathews had begun hurdling as a Morris Hills sophomore and said it is "one thing I know how to do 100 percent."
Kolibab had predicted Mathews would win a national championship "three steps into her first sprint." Former Stevens athletic trainer Melanie Rynshall, now at Morris Knolls, texted him a reminder of the bold prediction on Saturday night.
"Laura wasn't incredibly strong or incredibly balanced when she got here, but she had something no one else had," Kolibab said, referring to Mathews' ability to generate energy with every step. "It's kind of ridiculous what she can come up with if she's given time with something."
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Next up: a world decathlon title?
Mathews earned her bachelor's degree in industrial engineering last spring, and missed her master's graduation ceremony on Wednesday to go to nationals. She will start a technology consulting job in Manhattan in September.
But first, Mathews plans to expand her track and field repertoire even more. She was invited to compete at the inaugural women's decathlon world championships on August 3 and 4 in Ohio – the same days as the Olympic decathlon in Paris.
Decathlon has 10 events, adding shot put and pole vault to the seven heptathlon events normally competed by women.
Like the engineer she is, Mathews plans to enjoy "learning what systems in my body work together. It takes everything, and it's all got to work at once."
Jane Havsy is a storyteller for the Daily Record and DailyRecord.com, part of the USA TODAY Network. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis, subscribe today.
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This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NCAA Track and Field: Laura Mathews wins national hurdles title
