Watch Track Phenom Matthew Boling Run Down a Georgia Football Player During a Relay – runnersworld.com

• The University of Georgia football players took on their coaches in a 4×100-meter relay challenge, as a video posted by the team on Twitter on Monday shows.
• University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart had an ace up his sleeve, bringing in new UGA freshman track phenom Matthew Boling as the anchor for the coaches’ team.
• Boling crossed the line first, adding another accolade to his list.

In the final days before the 2019 college football season officially kicks off, players and coaches are understandably eager to be free of the practice drills and face real competition on game day.

To break his team out of the August conditioning slump, University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart challenged his team to a spirited coaches vs. players 4×100-meter relay instead of the usual wind sprints after practice—only Smart had an ace up his sleeve.

“Who wants to do a 4×100 versus the coaches instead of doing this?” Smart asks in a video posted to the Georgia football team’s Twitter on Monday.

With the team of Bulldogs players ahead by a comfortable three seconds, Smart brought in a backup anchor leg for the coaches’ team—new UGA freshman track phenom Matthew Boling.

Similar to how he would run down competitors out of nowhere, Boling was able to track down Richard LeCounte, a junior defensive back for the Bulldogs, on the homestretch. To make the closing sequence even better, Boling had enough time to point out that he caught LeCounte.

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Even though the players lost, a dog pile ensued after Boling made his presence known on the Athens campus.

Running fans shouldn’t be shocked that Boling crossed the finish line first. He’s already had an amazing 2019, with plenty of accolades to his credit as a senior sprinter in Texas: Biking ran 9.98 seconds to set the national high school record, was on two relay teams that broke U20 world records, and was even nominated for an ESPY.

Let the debate begin if Boling should consider being a two-sport star, similar to how Usain Bolt tried his hand at professional soccer. But as many on social media said after viewing the video, one thing is certain in this instance: track > football.

Director of Content Operations, Runner’s World & Bicycling Brian has spent the last 10 years focused on creating compelling news, health, and fitness content—with a particular interest on enthusiast activities like running and cycling.