Matt Rand • 2013

Nickname: Ice, Matty Ice
Cape Elizabeth, ME (Cape Elizabeth)
History and Economics

With rare consistency from September to May, Matt Rand spent his freshman year turning heads and quickly establishing himself as one of the region's most talented and promising distance runners. He has shown time again the gut-checking grit shared by the greats and necessary for success at the collegiate level. Though a fluke health issue ended his rookie cross season on a disheartening note, Rand had spent the fall getting stronger every week and dropping to a 25:56 8k PR. Hungry to turn disappointment into fuel for the fire, Matty Ice ended his indoor and outdoor debuts with studly PRs of 14:52 and 31:31, some of the top freshmen times in the whole nation. Week by week he gradually unveiled the massive talent and heart disguised by his humble and unassuming exterior. Unanimously respected and admired, Matt will without doubt continue to outdo even the loftiest expectations put upon him. Which, if you know what they are, is saying something.

As a sophomore, Rand took 17th at the XC Regional, narrowly missing a trip to Nationals. He bounced back and recorded a stellar track season, finishing 6th at the NCAA Championship in the 10,000 meters, earning All-American honors.

In his junior XC season, Matt placed 3rd at the NESCAC and Regional Championship. At the NCAA Championship, he finished 19th to earn All-American honors and lead the Jumbos to a 9th place finish. During the indoor season, he won the New England title in the 5k and anchored the Jumbos' All-American distance medley relay team at the NCAA Championship.

Interests: driving golf carts, baseball, oreos, ice cream, strawberries

PRs: 1600m: 4:16
3000m: 8:35
5000m: 14:34
8000m: 24:27
10000m: 30:09

Why Tufts: Jumbos, team atmosphere, campus, location, Dewick ice cream sundaes