Matt Welch

Class:
Redshirt Junior
Position:
Distance
Hometown:
Duluth, Minn.
High School:
Proctor

GOPHERS CAREER
• 10 career races
• Two top-10 finishes
• Letter winner (2015)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2015)

2015 | REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE SEASON
Ran in six races for the Gophers including his Big Ten and NCAA debuts • started the campaign at the Bob Timmons Dual Classic with a ninth-place finish and a new personal record for a six-kilometer race of 19:34.9 as Minnesota won the team title • factored into the Gophers' team score at the Griak Invitational with a 29th-place showing and a time of 25:41.1 • ran 25:21.5 at the Pre-National Meet to finish 255th • recorded a new personal record for an eight-kilometer course in his debut at the Big Ten meet, clocking a 24:47.7 to finish 59th • ran 31:25.2 to finish 56th at the NCAA Midwest Regional as the Gophers posted a runner-up finish, advancing to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2011 • finished 243rd at the NCAA Championships, clocking a 33:09.2 • Academic All-Big Ten • earned first letter

2014 | REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON
Ran in four races for the Gophers and helped Minnesota pick up three team wins • made his collegiate debut at the UC Riverside Invitational and posted a then personal eight-kilometer record at the meet • clocked a 25:21.2 to finish 45th overall, helping Minnesota to a team title at the California race • finished 161st in the Griak Invitational with a time of 27:09.9 • came in 33rd at the Jim Drews Invitational with a time of 26:01.29 • placed second at the 2014 Fall Finale with a time of 25:25.

2013 | FRESHMAN SEASON
Redshirted the 2013 cross country season.

HIGH SCHOOL
A 2012 graduate of Proctor High School • the 2012 Minnesota state cross country champion • a two-time first team all-state honoree • the 2012-13 Gatorade Minnesota Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year • also posted five top-10 performances at the state track & field meet for his career including a runner-up mark in the 3,200 meters as a junior and a runner-up mark in the 4x800 as a sophomore • holds the Proctor High School records for the 3,200 meters and the 4x800 • won a total of six conference titles in cross country and track & field • ran for head coach Lowell Harnell at Proctor • earned a total of 10 athletic letters as a prep (four in cross country, four in track, two in nordic sking)

PERSONAL
Born on Dec. 4, 1994 • son Mark of and Jacqui Welch • has three brothers (Ben, Zach and Jake) • major is undecided.

Welch's Career Bests
10K	31:25.2	NCAA Midwest Regional (Nov. 13, 2015)
8K	24:47.7	Big Ten Championships (Nov. 1, 2015)
6K	19:34.9	Bob Timmons Dual Classic (Sept. 1, 2015)
Finish	2nd	Fall Finale (Nov. 7, 2014)