Forgues gets closer to qualifying for Olympics

Former BRHS standout takes second at 50-kilometer race walk qualifier in California Saturday
Sun, 01/26/2020 - 1:00pm

Matthew Forgues, 27, a former Boothbay Region High School track and field standout, took second place in the 50 kilometer (31 miles) race walk in Santee, California on Saturday and earned a chance to represent Team USA at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

He finished the race in 4:14.42 behind first place finisher Andreas Gustafsson (4:12.11) according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Forgues “improved from his victory in the national championships here last year (4:27:28) and moved up from fourth place in the U.S. Trials four years ago,” according to the Union-Tribune.

Forgues, now living and working as a substitute teacher in Chula Vista, California and one of three top qualifiers, will still need to meet qualification standards set by the International Association of Athletics Federations.