Arizona
2003 (Redshirt Senior): Has the Wildcats’ top returning 400m time… Has completed his indoor eligibility, but will run during the outdoor season. 2002 (Redshirt Junior/Senior): Had a season-best time of 47.08 at the Mt. SAC Relays… Ran 47.44 in the 400m prelims at the Pacific-10 Conference Championships, later finishing eighth in the final… Clocked a time of 47.33i around the oversized track in Flagstaff on Valentine’s Day at the ASU-NAU-UA indoor meet… Ran 21.92i in the 200m at the Air Force Invitational. 2001 (Redshirt Sophomore/Junior): Earned All-America honors as a member of the 4x400m relay team that finished fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships… Ran a 46.78 in the 400m at the Jim Click Wildcat Shootout. 2000 (Sophomore): Did not compete during the outdoor season because of a hamstring injury... Also will be a key member of the 4x400m team... Competed during the indoor season, running the team’s top 400m time, 47.45, at the ASU-NAU-UA indoor dual meet... Third in the quarter-mile at the MPSF Championships... Also was a part of the 4x400m relay team that finished second at the MPSF meet. 1999 (Freshman): Improved greatly at the end of the season, running his best times of the year at the Pac-10 Championships... Showed great promise for the future... Ran 46.96 in the finals of the Pac-10 meet to finish seventh... Was the only freshman to make the finals of the event... Ran a personal-best 47.00 in the preliminaries to advance to the finals... Ran the 400m leg of Arizona’s distance medley relay team that won the title at the Drake Relays in 9:40.31.
High School
Camarillo (Calif.) H.S.: Ran 47.37 in the 400m and 21:51 in the 200m his senior season... Had the fastest time in the state of California in the 400m in 1998... Advanced to the state meet, but did not place... Ventura County champion his senior season.
Personal
Matthew Paul Lea... Born 7-20-79 in Burbank, Calif... Son of David and Kathleen Lea... Hobbies include sports, relaxing and watching television… Majoring in psychology with a minor in business.
