David Matthews (runner)

{{short description|Irish middle-distance runner}}

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David Matthews (born 9 April 1974){{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/olympics/irish/athletics-matthews.htm|title=David Matthews — 800 metres|year=2000|publisher=The Irish Times|accessdate=27 April 2012}} is an Irish former middle-distance runner specialising in the 800 metres. He was born in Leixlip, County Kildare and attended University College, Dublin.

At his favoured distance, he won the consecutive national titles outdoors in 1994–5–6–7{{cite web |url=http://www.athleticsireland.ie/statistics/natchampions_out.htm |title=Roll of Honour of Irish Champions |publisher=Athletics Ireland |accessdate=27 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603182913/http://www.athleticsireland.ie/statistics/natchampions_out.htm |archivedate=3 June 2009 }} and indoors in 1993–4–5,{{cite web|url=http://www.athleticsireland.ie/statistics/natchampions_in.htm|title=Roll of Honour of Irish Indoor Champions|year=2004|publisher=Athletics Ireland|accessdate=27 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314154046/http://www.athleticsireland.ie/statistics/natchampions_in.htm#|archive-date=2012-03-14|url-status=dead}} He won the bronze medal at the 1993 European Junior Championships,{{cite web|url=http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?page_id=6037 |title=Roll of Honour |publisher=Athletics Ireland |accessdate=27 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530134517/http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?page_id=6037 |archivedate=30 May 2012 }} reached the semifinal of the 1996 Olympics and the heats of the 2000 Olympics.{{cite web|url=http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/irish-athletics-olympiansnov2011.pdf |title=Irish Athletics Olympians |year=2011 |publisher=Athletics Ireland |accessdate=27 April 2012 |format=PDF }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Matthews is the Irish record holder at 1000 m outdoors (senior{{cite web|url=http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?page_id=4|title=Men’s Senior Outdoor Records|publisher=Athletics Ireland|accessdate=27 April 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217194458/http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?page_id=4|archivedate=17 February 2012}} and under-23{{cite web|url=http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?page_id=108 |title=U23 Men’s Outdoor Records |publisher=Athletics Ireland |accessdate=27 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206175529/http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?page_id=108 |archivedate=6 February 2012 }}).

In 2011, Matthews was appointed fitness coach of senior Cork county hurling team.{{cite news|url=http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2011/10/09/Matthews-joins-Cork-backroom-team-/gnid-112541/ |title=Matthews added to Rebel set-up |last=Skehan |first=Oli |date=9 October 2011 |publisher=Setanta Sports |accessdate=27 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123081354/http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2011/10/09/Matthews-joins-Cork-backroom-team-/gnid-112541/ |archivedate=23 November 2011 }}