Matt Thornton

Position:
Distance
Weight:
null
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Cary, N.C.
High School:
Cary

Personal Records
XC 10k - 31:39.1 • XC 8.4k – 26:01 • XC 8k – 24:58.8 • XC 6k – 18:53 • 10,000m - 30:57.32 • 5,000m – 14:21.70 • 3,000m – 8:25.45 • Mile – 4:23

2019-20: Finished 24th in the 5,000 meters (14:34.53) at the ACC Indoor Championships • Clocked a personal-best 3,000 meters (8:25.45) at the Valentine Invitational • Finished second in the 5,000 at the Power 5 Invitational and 10th in the 3,000 at the Virginia Tech Invitational • Outdoor season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic • Named to the 2019-20 ACC Academic Honor Roll.

2019 XC: Placed 106th in the men’s 8K race (26:55.7) at the ACC Cross Country Championships • Scored for Carolina in the first three of four regular season meets, earning Carolina top finish at the Elon Opener 6K and the No. 2 finish with a personal-best 8K time (24:40) at the Cavalier Classic.

2018-19: Competed at the ACC Indoor Championships (DNF) • Clocked personal bests in the 5,000 meters (14:21.70) at Boston’s David Hemery Valentine Invitational and in the 3,000 meters (8:29.23) at Clemson’s Bob Pollock Invitational • Did not compete during the outdoor season • Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll.

2018 XC: Finished 94th at the NCAA Southeast Regional with a 10K time of 32:04.9 • Placed 71st with a personal-best performance in the men’s 8K (24:58.8) at the ACC Championships • Scored for Carolina at the Charlotte Opener, Penn State National XC Open and the postseason competitions.

2017-18: Set a new personal record in the 3,000 after finishing in 8:35.40 at the Clemson Bob Pollock Invitational • Ran a career-best 10,000-meter race at the Virginia Challenge, clocking in at 30:57.32 • Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll.

2017 XC: Finished 100th at the NCAA Southeast Regional • Took 78th in the ACC Cross Country Championships with a personal best 25:09.8 • Finished in the top six for the Tar Heels in each meet.

2016-17: Set his personal-best 8:38.57 in the 3,000 at the Dennis Craddock Carolina Relays • Ran the 5,000 in 14:48.02 at the Raleigh Relays • Competed in five meets during his opening season with the Tar Heels • Kicked off the season at the Adidas XC Challenge where he placed 34th, clocking in at 18:53 • Ran a personal best of 25:51 at the ACC Cross Country Championships to take 103rd place • Finished 199th at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational • Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll.

Prep: Team captain and 4-time All-Conference • 3-time All-Metro • 2-time All-Region • All-State recognition • National Honor Society member • Member of the Speech and Debate clubs • An Eagle Scout • Junior Marshal.

Personal: Matthew McCombs Thornton is the son of Peter Thornton and Kim McCombs-Thornton • Born January 5.

Eligibility: Indoor (SR-4) • Outdoor (SR-4)

TFRRS Results