Matt Rand

Rand grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine and graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School in 2009. He played baseball and basketball while also running cross country.{{Cite web |title=Getting to Know Matt Rand |url=https://newyork.usatf.org/news/2020/getting-to-know%E2%80%A6-matt-rand |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=USATF New York |language=en-US}} He attended Tufts University, where he earned NCAA All-American awards in cross country, the 10,000 meters, and the distance medley relay. Rand placed as high as sixth in the Open New England Cross Country Championship.{{Cite web |last=Veilleux |first=Derek |date=2011-11-16 |title=Catching up with Matt Rand |url=https://me.milesplit.com/articles/76371/catching-up-with-matt-rand |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=MileSplit Maine |language=en}} While at Tufts, he was teammates and roommates with ultra-marathoner and mountaineer Tyler C. Andrews.{{Cite web |last=Sweeney |first=Paul |date=2020-02-28 |title=Tufts Alumni in the Running for U.S. Olympic Marathon Team |url=https://now.tufts.edu/2020/02/28/tufts-alumni-running-us-olympic-marathon-team |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Tufts Now |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Rand named cross country All-American |url=https://www.tuftsdaily.com/article/2011/11/awards-rand-named-cross-country-all-american |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Tufts Daily |language=en-US}}

In 2017 while residing in Ozone Park, New York and competing for Central Park Track Club, Rand won the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon in Albany, NY.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Sean |date=2017-10-08 |title=Marathon Winners Reign in the Rain |url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Marathon-winners-reign-in-the-rain-12262598.php |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Albany Times Union |language=en-US}}

Rand placed in the top 50 at the Chicago Marathon in 2016 and 2018.{{Cite web |title=Matt Rand - World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/matt-rand-14410959 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=World Athletics |language=en-US}}

He finished 25th at the 2019 Houston Marathon and 28th at the 2019 USA 20 km Championship in New Haven, CT. Shortly thereafter at the 2019 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, Rand claimed 6th in a time of 2:18:42, which qualified him for the 2020 United States Olympic Trials (marathon).{{Cite web |last=Bakoulis |first=Gordon |date=2020-02-07 |title=A Passion for the Pursuit: Matt Rand Is Ready to Put It on the Line at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials |url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Marathon-winners-reign-in-the-rain-12262598.php |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=New York Road Runners |language=en-US}}

USATF New York named Rand the 2019 Long Distance Running Athlete of the Year, alongside Roberta Groner.{{Cite web |title=Best of 2019 to be Honored on December 20 |url=https://newyork.usatf.org/news/2020/best-of-2019-to-be-honored-on-december-20 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=USATF New York |language=en-US}}

As of early 2020, he had relocated to Portland, Maine and worked for U.S. News & World Report, while also training for the Olympic Trials.{{Cite web |last=Fritz Huber |first=Martin |date=2020-02-28 |title=The Olympic Marathon Trials Are for Everyday Heroes |url=https://www.outsideonline.com/2409936/2020-olympic-marathon-trials-amateurs |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Outside Magazine |language=en-US}} In February 2020, Rand competed in the 2020 Olympic Trials Marathon, placing 108th of 235 men on a hilly course through downtown Atlanta.{{Cite web |title=2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Results |url=https://track.rtrt.me/e/ATLANTA-TRIALS-2020#/leaderboard/top-men-marathon/FINISH |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=RTRT.me |language=en-US}}

In 2023, Rand finished 8th of 25,418 runners in the Brooklyn Half Marathon, one of the largest half marathons in the United States.{{Cite web |title=Brooklyn Half Marathon Results |url=https://results.nyrr.org/event/23BKH/result/8 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=New York Road Runners |language=en-US}} Over the summer, he won the Maine Men’s division at the Beach to Beacon 10K in his hometown of Cape Elizabeth, ME.{{Cite web |last=Lazarczyk |first=Travis |date=2023-08-05 |title=Matt Rand sets personal best to finish as top Mainer at Beach to Beacon |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2023/08/05/matt-rand-sets-personal-best-to-finish-as-top-mainer-at-beach-to-beacon/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Portland Press Herald |language=en-US}}

In October, he ran the 2023 McKirdy Micro Marathon in a time of 2:17:11 to qualify for the 2024 United States Olympic Trials (marathon).

At the 2024 Olympic Trials in Orlando, FL, Rand struggled in hot, sunny conditions. He was the last of 150 men to cross the finish line (50 of the 200 male starters dropped out).{{Cite web |title=2024 Olympic Trials Marathon Results |url=https://www.flipsnack.com/USATF/2024-u-s-olympic-team-trials-marathon-final-results/full-view.html |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Flipsnack |language=en-US}} His effort was featured in an article written by Dennis Young and published by Defector.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Dennis |date=2024-02-22 |title=At The Olympic Trials Marathon, DFL Means Pain Over Regret |url=https://defector.com/at-the-olympic-trials-marathon-dfl-means-pain-over-regret |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Defector |language=en-US}} Other marathoners from previous Olympic Trials were also cited in the long-form piece, including Dan Browne and Joanna Zeiger.

As of 2025, Rand serves on the Board of Directors for the Beach to Beacon 10K.{{Cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://www.beach2beacon.org/about/board-of-directors/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Beach to Beacon 10K |language=en-US}}

As of 2024, Rand lives with his wife and son in Portland, Maine and operates a stone business.{{Cite web |title=Matt Rand - 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon |url=https://www.orlando2024trials.com/athlete/51/34/matt-rand |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Orlando 2024 Trials |language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/matt-rand-14410959 World Athletics Profile]
• [https://www.orlando2024trials.com/athlete/51/34/matt-rand 2024 Olympic Trials Bio]
• [https://www.atlanta2020trials.com/fan-zone/athletes/Matt-Rand 2020 Olympic Trials Bio]

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Category:Living people

Category:Track and field athletes from Maine

Category:American male long-distance runners

Category:Tufts Jumbos men's track and field athletes

Category:American male marathon runners

Category:People from Cape Elizabeth, Maine