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Photo by Phillip Jeffery
July 22, 2024
Teen athlete earns gold in parasport competition, sets national records
Local athlete Matthew Jeffery just returned from the Move United Hartford Nationals parasport competition, held in Hoover, Ala., wearing 12 new medals. This year marks the fourth for the 15-year-old as a member of Texas Parasports.
Last year, Jeffery competed in 10 events, earning eight gold medals, two silver medals, and setting five new national records.
This year, he competed in nine individual events, including the F-45 classification U-17 division discus, long jump and javelin, setting new national records in the long jump and javelin. The reigning national champion in the T-45 classification U-17 division in the 100-meter and 200-meter, he set new records this month.
Jeffery swam in the S-8 classification U-17 division, winning the national championship in the 50-meter breaststroke, 50-meter butterfly, and 100-meter butterfly, and placing second in the 100-meter breaststroke. His team finished second in the 4x25 mixed medley, and earned gold in the 4x25 freestyle and 4x100 relay.
Jeffery brought home a total of 10 gold medals and two silver medals, and he is looking forward to improving his times and distances for next year's Nationals in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Last year, Jeffery competed in 10 events, earning eight gold medals, two silver medals, and setting five new national records.
This year, he competed in nine individual events, including the F-45 classification U-17 division discus, long jump and javelin, setting new national records in the long jump and javelin. The reigning national champion in the T-45 classification U-17 division in the 100-meter and 200-meter, he set new records this month.
Jeffery swam in the S-8 classification U-17 division, winning the national championship in the 50-meter breaststroke, 50-meter butterfly, and 100-meter butterfly, and placing second in the 100-meter breaststroke. His team finished second in the 4x25 mixed medley, and earned gold in the 4x25 freestyle and 4x100 relay.
Jeffery brought home a total of 10 gold medals and two silver medals, and he is looking forward to improving his times and distances for next year's Nationals in Grand Rapids, Mich.