2007: Posted a breakout sophomore campaign, shaving more than a minute off his 8K personal best; his time of 25:10.90 at the Indiana Intercollegiates (9/14) is the Boilermakers' second-fastest time on their home course; clocked a career-best time of 24:35.80 at the Pre-National Invitational (10/13); posted a time of 31:59.20 in the 10K at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship (11/11); ran a 14:34 5K and a 3:50 1,500-meter run during the 2008 track and field season.
2006: Helped Purdue to a second-place team finish and earned a 10th-place individual finish at the Indiana Intercollegiates (9/16) with a time of 26:07 in the 8K.
High School: Earned four letters in cross country at St. Charles North High School; named team MVP as a sophomore, earning all-conference honors; was conference and region champion as a senior; earned all-state honors as a senior, placing 18th at the state championships; selected to represent Illinois at the 2005 MidEast Meet of Champions.
Personal: Matthew Samuel De Silva was born on Nov. 3, 1987, in Guelph, Ontario; is the son of Janet and Marc De Silva; engaged to Amanda Herrmann.