Junior hurdler Matthew Tyeskie has made a notable comeback for the Little Rock Trojans, returning from a serious Achilles injury to set new records in the Ohio Valley Conference. The announcement was made on Apr. 14, highlighting his journey back to competition after an injury that often ends athletic careers.
Tyeskie’s return is significant for both him and the Little Rock track program. After being sidelined for an entire season due to a full Achilles tear in November 2024, he reclaimed his place as one of the team’s top athletes by winning the conference title in the 60-meter hurdles at the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships with a time of 7.83 seconds, breaking both school and conference records.
Tyeskie said his background prepared him well for adversity: “Growing up, I was always running around. I grew up in the country—Kilgore, Texas. I come from a long line of elite sprinters and athletes. I tried going over my first hurdle in seventh grade, and I was naturally good at it.” Head coach J.P. Behnke recognized his potential early on: “Matthew was a highly recruited hurdler from Texas who was also a strong student academically… We had one of his former high school teammates on our team who was running very well for us, which I think was a factor in him making his decision to sign with the Trojans.”
After an impressive freshman year where he helped lead Little Rock to sweep OVC championships and broke records with a time of 13.70 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles, expectations were high before his injury struck during Thanksgiving break of his sophomore year. Despite this setback, Tyeskie remained determined: “Of course I was bummed out that I wouldn’t be able to compete for my team’s sake, but I always knew I would be able to come back quick and stronger than ever… The injury itself hasn’t defined me.” Behnke praised Tyeskie’s determination during recovery: “He started rehab immediately after surgery and was ahead of schedule every step of the way.” He also credited support staff: “I also have to give a lot of credit to our athletic training staff for the countless hours helping him get to this point.”
Support from coaches played an important role throughout Tyeskie’s rehabilitation process. He said about Behnke: “He’s had my back ever since I got here… The first thing he told me when I called him after I tore my Achilles was, ‘Your comeback story is going to be even greater.'”
Reflecting on breaking new records post-injury, Tyeskie said: “It means a lot honestly… It’s a testament to those around me. I couldn’t have done it without my coaches giving me the opportunity to still be here and our training and medical staff helping and encouraging me every step of the way.”
