Slow and steady won’t beat Matti Erickson

The Nelson runner won an event at the Nike Invitational cross-country meet.

Matti Erickson (right) celebrated his win at the Nike Invitational with U.S. Olympian Alan Webb.

Matti Erickson (right) celebrated his win at the Nike Invitational with U.S. Olympian Alan Webb.

Kootenay Chaos runner Matti Erickson defeated a field of over 400 athletes to win the Nike Invitational cross-country meet in Portland last weekend.

Erickson, 13, bested the field in the middle school three-kilometre race for Grades 6 to 8, running nine minutes 56 seconds for the distance.

He was presented with the medal for his performance by U.S. Olympian Alan Webb, who holds the American outdoor record for a mile run.

Nelson Star