MADISON MORRIS RUNS HER WAY TO A FOURTH PLACE FINISH AT THE 2021 LHSAA STATE XC MEET!
Cedar Creek's Madison Morris learned a lot about cross country last year as a seventh grader competing on the varsity level. Despite her youth, she had a successful season, finishing fourth (20:32.90) at the LHSAA Class 1A Cross Country Championships.
That success has carried over into this season, and that is why she is this week's MileSplit LA Future Star.
Last Saturday, Morris finished tenth (21:40.73) at the Wallace Martin Cross Country Invitational. In finishing so high, Morris was one of the main reasons that Cedar Creek had a runner-up finish in the meet.
While she wanted to finish higher, Morris was just happy to be getting back to full strength after overcoming illness during much of the first four weeks of the season.
"It's been hard," Morris said. "We couldn't figure out what it was. It was really just affecting my chest and stuff. After finally being able to push through it and just come back to practice-it's been a blessing that I'm OK finally."
As far as her season last year, Morris learned a great deal and is grateful for the experience.
"It was the best season I could ever ask for. Everyone on the team was so supportive and amazing people. I couldn't ask for a better team. Honestly, it's just a blessing to be on varsity when you are a young kid because you learn so much along the way. There are a lot of life lessons to come, and it's just amazing."
Morris's goals this year are getting into the low 19s and finishing in the top three in the state meet.
Her coach is certainly a believer.
"She is a child after God's own heart," Cedar Creek cross country Craig Moss said. "She is a wonderful child, but she is a competitor and she will not quit competing. She has been sick for the last three weeks. For her to come out here and run as well as she did, I thought it was exceptional."