Heidel with his medals at the Western Canada Team Challenge this past weekend. (Submitted Photo/Matthew Heidel)

By Austin Mattes

Headed to Nationals

Heidel runs away with U16 800M gold; becomes fastest in Western Canada

Jul 21, 2025 | 5:00 PM

There’s a new champ in town.

Rising track star Matthew Heidel of the Battlefords delivered a gold-medal performance at the Western Canada Team Challenge this past weekend, racing to victory in the U16 boys’ 800 metres while representing Team Saskatchewan.

Heidel, who attends North Battleford Comprehensive High School but trains with Riversdale Athletics Club in Saskatoon, clocked an impressive 2:03.27 in the 800M final, nearly four seconds faster than his nearest competitor, securing his position as the fastest U16 800M runner in Western Canada. The provincial U16 record stands at approximately 1:56, a mark Heidel now has firmly in his sights.

“I was hoping for some good results,” Heidel said. “I went and I was seeded second, but I was down a second based on my time from high school provincials and I really wanted to improve. From provincials to now, I made up five seconds, and the provincial record is 1:56, So as long as I stay in the top and contend, than maybe I could break the record, who knows?”

The 15-year-old’s performance not only earned him gold but also boosted his national standing. “On Athletics Canada, I believe I’ll be around 14th in the country and I’m pretty happy with that,” Heidel added.

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For the young athlete, the 800M final was a showcase of dominance from start to finish.

“I don’t really know exactly how it happened, if I’m going to be honest,” Heidel said. “I started out pretty hard right off the start and by the first 100 meters, I already had a bit of a gap. I never look behind me when I’m running, but I heard the bell for me and then it wasn’t right away that they rang the bell for second place. So I knew I was doing well… my last lap, I just kind of tried to give it everything I had. In the end, I looked back and I had way more space than I thought I did. It was definitely a good feeling.”

In addition to his 800M victory, Heidel also competed in three other U16 events: the 300M, where he placed sixth, the 4x100M relay, where Team Sask earned silver, and the 1600M medley relay, where he anchored the 800M portion to help secure another silver medal for Saskatchewan.

Heidel leaves the event with one gold and two silvers, an impressive medal haul heading into the Canadian National Championships, set for August 8–10 in Calgary, Alberta.

“I’m hoping that if I really follow the science-based training over the next couple of weeks until nationals, the results will be really good,” Heidel said. “If I ran anything under two minutes, I’d be very happy for sure. That would put me at about sixth or seventh in Canada depending on the other results.”

He credited much of his success to the support around him: “I would like to thank my parents, Alan and Tricia. My high school coaches who got me started on this journey — Mrs. Theil, Mr. Webster, Mrs. Pyrstupa and my Riversdale Athletics Club coach Ross Ann Edwards. Without these people, I would not be where I am today.”

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austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes