Former Maverick Emmanuel Matadi Also Part of 4×100
From Maverick Althetics News
Maverick men’s track & field sprinter Jabez Reeves joins former Minnesota State student-athlete Emmanuel Matadi, in representing their home country of Liberia in the 4×100 meter relay at the Paris Olympics.
Reeves and Matadi, who also qualified for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2021 Tokyo Olympics, join Maverick women’s track star, Denisha Cartwright, who will be competing for the Bahamas in the 100m hurdles. Cartwright holds the DII record in the event and was named the 2024 NCAA Division II Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year.
Chris Parno, Minnesota State Associate Head Men’s & Women’s Track and Field Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, said Reeves first track season with the Mavericks was one of growing success.
“We are very excited for Jabez as he gets the opportunity of a lifetime this summer,” Parno said. “He has worked tirelessly since arriving here in the fall semester and has earned everything along the way. From Indoor National Champion to African Championship medalist to now Olympian! “
At the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships in March, Reeves turned in a personal best in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.09, winning the championship by .05 and establishing a new school record. He became MSU’s first national champion in the race since Michael Lawrence won it in 2005 and was the eighth All-American in school history in the distance. In the 60 meter dash, Reevesfinished ninth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.80 to earn Second-Team All-American honors. He won NSIC Championships in 60 meter dash and 200 meter dash.
This outdoor season, Reeves used the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa to get ready for Olympic qualifying in the 4×100 meter dash. There he and the Maverick sprinters finished second with a time of 39.96. On May 1, he posted a personal best 200 meter time of 20.94 (w:1.5) at the Maverick Open #1, 14th best in Division II this spring.
Matadi, who graduated from Johnson High School in St. Paul, set two indoor records in his one season with the Mavericks (60m/6.66 & 200m /21.10), to go along with outdoor marks in the 100m (10.19) and the 4x100m relay (40.15). His season culminated in a pair of NCAA Division II outdoor track & field championships in the 100m and 200m.
In Rio, Matadi posted a time of 10.31 in round one of the 100-meter dash event to rank 43rd and he placed fifth in his 200m first-round heat with a time of 20.49. His time placed him 30th overall.
In Tokyo, he turned in a time of 10.25 in his first-round 100m heat to rank 35th.
