Elite runners balance missionary work, competition


Tyler Mathews is in the best shape of his life. Trips to the World Championships — maybe even the Olympics— are not out of the question for the Mesa Red Mountain alum. 

Yet Mathews, the Arizona high school state record holder in the 800 meters, who just wrapped up a wildly successful freshman season at Brigham Young University, is about to hit pause on his burgeoning track and field career for two years. 

Mathews is serving a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mission in Africa.

“Putting God first and my faith first will lead to me becoming a better athlete and a better person, a more disciplined athlete,” Mathews said.

Mathews is just one of many young athletes across the country, and the world, who put their athletic ambitions on hold to pursue their faith and work with the LDS Church. More than 80,000 missionaries are serving LDS missions at any one time, according to the Church.

For these athletes, while the decision to step aside from their sports at such a critical point in their development can be difficult, strengthening their faith is a vital component of their journeys, on and off the track. 

The Arizona Republic spoke with three local track and field athletes at different points in their missionary work – two about to serve and one currently serving – about balancing their faith while being elite runners.

‘I see people doing the same thing’

Mathews is one of the best distance runners to come from Arizona. He was the first Arizona prep to run under 1:50 in the 800 when he did so in 2023, finishing the season top 10 in the country and earning a scholarship to BYU. He is a three-time AIA state champion in the 800.

At BYU, Mathews wasted little time establishing himself. In his second-ever race, Mathews broke the indoor school record for the 800 with a 1:46.62. He finished runner-up at the Big 12 Indoor Championships.

Mathews built on his strong indoor season by running 1:46.19 at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships, second all-time in BYU school history. He was named Big 12 Outstanding Freshman of the Year. 

In other words, Mathews has never been faster. The possibility of making a future national team for a World Championship is on the table for Mathews. The Olympics are a goal of his.

The decision for Mathews was tough. Mathews already waited to start his mission by one year (most tend to serve right after graduating high school) to see what he could as a freshman on the track and field team. But with an age limit to serve the mission, Mathews filed his paperwork and waited to see where he was called.

Mathews believes that his missionary work will ultimately serve him on the track.

“One of the most important things for me to do, while I’m also focusing on training, is everything on the spiritual side,” Mathews said. “Go to church, do everything that I’m supposed to, and then also just try to keep a strong relationship with God. I try to do all those things first, and I see the benefits afterwards in terms of my support.”

Mathews isn’t worried about losing his fitness or speed while on the mission. While he has a daily set of scheduled activities with a companion who must be by his side, Mathews is allowed some time in the morning to train. And, in what Mathews called a “blessing in disguise,” the country that Mathews was called to serve also happens to be filled with distance runners: Uganda.

In an act of coincidence, this is the same mission that BYU star Kenneth Rooks served. Rooks just made the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Mathews looks to the path of Rooks as a source of hope.

“I see people doing the same thing, and they’re coming back and becoming Olympians,” Mathews said. “That was a big confidence booster.”

Coupled with the fact that it is an English-speaking mission for Mathews, lessening the load of learning he would have to, he’s confident he’ll return to form in 2027. Mathews will have his true sophomore season at BYU, about 11 months in total, in the lead-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“I think that will be enough time to at least give myself a shot,” Mathews said. “I think all of those things came together to put away those worries of whether or not I’d be able to return as a good athlete. I’m super excited for my mission and super excited for that opportunity.”

‘I love the gospel’

Mesa Mountain View alum Daniel Judd became the 12th boy from Arizona this past season to run under 9:00 in the 3,200 this past season to win the AIA state title, also pulling off the sweep and winning the title in the 1,600.

Like Mathews, Judd is also waiting a year to do his mission. 

The plan is to do a semester at Salt Lake Community College, where he will run cross-country in the fall. If his cross-country times are competitive enough, he will look to compete in the track and field season with the hopes of attracting the attention of a four-year college, like nearby Utah State University, before heading off on his mission.

“Giving up those two years, I feel like I will be more blessed when I get back,” Judd said. “And I love the gospel, what I believe in. So the sacrifice for me is big, but I want it.”

Complicating Judd’s decision is the fact that SLCC decided to cut track and field on June 20. Now, the future is in flux.

For Judd, running goes deeper than just putting on a pair of shoes and lacing them up.

“I feel that it is given to me with a purpose from God,” Judd said. “And I feel in return (running) is to show my gratitude and my thankfulness. Whenever I go out there to run, it’s like I’m running for my faith, in a way. And that really helps me find a balance with running. It’s like I’m doing something fulfilling, something that I feel is my calling.”

Life on a mission: Jesus and jump-ups

Zach Ripperdan, a Queen Creek alum who graduated in 2024, was in the same race that Mathews set his state record in 2023. Ripperdan ended up running 1:51.23 for the 800 as a senior and is No. 6 all-time in state history for the event.

He earned a track and field scholarship to Utah State, but deferred that for two years as he opted to serve a mission. Ripperdan is currently in Quito, Ecuador and is 10 months into his mission.

Ripperdan, despite not having stepped foot competitively on a track since July 28, 2024, feels “100%” that he has improved as a runner by strengthening his relationship with God.

“When I’m serving other people, I feel like I have more energy,” Ripperdan said. “I’m less worried about the little stresses of life that can affect your performance sometimes. For me, it’s easier to be consistent in the little things with training. That consistency and that discipline go hand in hand.”

Ripperdan is usually able to get a short run done in the morning before planning the day with his companion. With Quito at 9,000 feet of elevation, where the air is thinner, it doesn’t take long for Ripperdan to work up a sweat. Jump-ups have become a go-to for Ripperdan.

He has about 14 months left of his mission before returning to the United States and beginning his track and field career at Utah State.

“I’m just going to come back and be consistent and not try to cheat the grind,” Ripperdan said. “I am excited because I think some of that will be cool when I get back from my mission. Of course, it’ll be an adjustment in the first few months getting back into legit collegiate shape. I think I’ll be more appreciative of what it takes and the consistency to be at your best. And obviously carry over the things in my mission, my connection with God.”

Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@gannett.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.





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