Courtesy of Brian Beard

As the men’s cross country team approaches NCAA Northeast Regionals, Matthew Servin ’27 is doing anything but slowing down.

At the NESCAC Championships on October 31, Servin earned All-NESCAC accolades after completing the eight-kilometer Middlebury course in 25:15.6, placing 14th out of 155 runners. Leading up to the championship race, Servin claimed a fourth-place finish in 25:00.6 at the Keene State Invitational on October 3, a mere 1.6 seconds behind teammate Seamus McDonough ’27 in a field of 267 runners.

Servin shared that while his collegiate running career has not been what he anticipated, his final cross country season with the Polar Bears has been a satisfying culmination of his persistent efforts.

“I’ve definitely struggled with a lot of injuries and setbacks, so it hasn’t really gone exactly how I envisioned, but this season has been really nice,” Servin said. “I’ve learned throughout the years what works for me and what doesn’t, and I’ve worked closely with my coach to change up my training and stay healthy. I would have liked to have had more successful seasons, but it’s come to fruition this season.”

His ability to prioritize both individual achievement and collective success has become a distinguishing feature of his senior season. Following years of injury management and training adjustments, Servin has developed a greater appreciation for the discipline and patience that distance running demands. His steady presence has also reinforced the team’s shared commitment to improvement.

Servin has consistently placed first or second for the Polar Bears this season, starting with a first-place team finish at the shorter-distance Regional Preview meet in September. Servin carried this early momentum into a ninth-place finish at the Maine State Championship, where his time of 25:37.3 marked a decisive 13-second lead ahead of his next-best teammate.

Servin achieved his season-best 8k time at the Connecticut College Invitational on October 17, where he secured 37th place in 24:49.0.

Despite his exceptional individual performances, Servin said that team victories have taken precedence over personal success this season.

“In running and other individual sports, it can get very anxiety-inducing, and I think at Bowdoin, those anxieties are quelled by a real sense of companionship and one group really working together every single week for some shared goal,” Servin said. “I’ve noticed this year how the individual goals have taken a backseat behind a greater team goal, which is very special.”

For Servin, running with the Polar Bears has been about more than race results and personal bests.

“There are a lot of things that you can gain fulfillment from just by enjoying them, not worrying about what the outcomes are and whether you’re succeeding or not,” Servin said. “I’ve been just enjoying the process of going to practice and hanging out with teammates.”

Servin began running in middle school because his older sisters were distance runners. He followed their footsteps and continued to compete, eventually deciding to pursue distance running in college partway through his high school career.

Servin described his immediate certainty that Bowdoin was his first choice, citing the coaching staff and collaborative team culture. His initial impressions of camaraderie and mutual support have remained true throughout his years at Bowdoin.

“I think that going to a race like [the] NESCACs, you can tell what teams are really supporting one another, and … our team specifically cares about each other on a level that’s deeper than being teammates,” Servin said.

While the end of Servin’s collegiate cross country career is approaching, the season is not over yet. The Polar Bears will race in NCAA Northeast Regionals on November 14 against a competitive contingent of New England programs, where Servin will compete for a coveted individual spot in the NCAA Division III National Championships.

Beyond cross country season, Servin is eager to reunite with the men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams this winter.

“I think we have a really strong outlook as a track team, and I think finishing pretty strong as a team at NESCACs set a positive tone. The [other athletes on the] track team that don’t run cross country have started their practices, and so we’re excited to focus on the rest of the season and then join the rest of the team,” Servin said.