In his one full season of competition at CCU, Matthew Storer has already achieved more than many runners will in an entire career with four All American honors. However, there is much more to Storer beyond the many accolades he has achieved as a runner. He began running in sixth grade but did not immediately have a passion for the sport. It was not until his junior year of high school that Storer fully committed to running and doing so at the next level. Matt now faced a hard choice; where to go for college. Between the two choices of WCU and CCU, he ended up choosing Western Colorado University for their top tier facilities and their excellent biology program. During his time with the Mountaineers, Storer began to feel his faith in God fading. He realized he wanted to be somewhere where he could truly live for God and live out his purpose for him. Storer began questioning where he truly belonged.
While competing as a freshman, Storer recalled that CCU athletes would often ask to pray with him at meets. He realized that CCU might be the place for him and where God might be opening the next door. He then reached out to Head Coach, Jon Poag, regarding an open spot on the team. Upon his arrival in Lakewood, he was immediately welcomed by the team and found the environment to be more competitive than he expected. He said it "felt like home." Not everything was easy though when he made the transition to CCU. Unfortunately, Storer had his eligibility withheld and he was unable to compete during his first year at CCU. He began to question why God would call him to Colorado Christian University if he couldn't even run. However, the year off taught Storer true humility and how to be a real teammate while supporting the greater team around him.
He soon recognized that success did not look like it used to. The brotherhood from his teammates and their Christ-centered goals was what showed him there was a bigger purpose beyond just themselves. He quickly realized that although he loved running, he didn't love it enough to do it just for himself. He's running for Christ and Christ alone.
Although running takes up a large part of his daily life, running is not all that encompasses who he is. Storer knows that he is a student athlete first and also has many hobbies outside of running. He wants to eventually own a business to help the needy through his knowledge of economics, which he is minoring in at CCU. He also enjoys fly fishing, driving, and gardening. Matt is also scuba certified and enjoys spending time in the ocean. This particular hobby stems from his time living in Singapore with his missionary parents. His parents had a huge impact in his life as he watched them spread the gospel in Singapore, Laus, and Liberia. They have made him who he is today, are his biggest fans, and support him in all areas of life.
Storer has lofty goals after college and wishes to continue running at the highest level. His goals include eventually competing on the world stage of the Olympics. He recognizes that God has given him a gift and he wants to take it as far as he can. He not only focuses on himself, but he is also selflessly growing the future generation of runners as an assistant running coach with the Kokopelli racing team. Coaching is his way to give back to the incredible sport that has helped shape him into who he is today.
