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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels May 1, 2004 Morgan going the distance By Jennifer Squires Ashland Daily Tidings Even if David Morgan had been running since he was 8 years old, what the Ashland High junior has accomplished in the past year would be amazing. However, considering Morgan has been running competitively for less than two years, the accolades he has collected are downright remarkable. Morgan broke the 12-year-old Grizz 3,000-meter track record last weekend at the Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings ashland high junior distance runner david morgan surges toward the finish line during a dual meet against Grants Pass, Tuesday at the AHS track in Ashland. Morgan is gunning for a 3,000-meter SOC championship. Centennial Invitational. During the fall, he earned all-state honors after leading his team to the state meet in cross country. Last spring, teammate David Richardson outkicked Morgan in the 3,000 at district to earn a trip to the state track and field meet. "It's everything from his gut intrinsic 'I want to do well,' to [being] surrounded by people who can push him," said Grizz assistant coach John Cornet. "He's hungry for it and he's a team player." When dad knows best Morgan, who transferred to Ashland from a school in British Columbia, had been a rugby and soccer player up north. Running made up an element of the sports he participated in, but he wasn't a runner. Then he moved to Ashland to live with his father, Jim, the summer before his sophomore year of high school. Morgan's dad had been a stand-out long distance runner at Southern Oregon State College (now Southern Oregon University) in the late 1970s. In 1979, Jim set the record in the men's 5,000, with a time of 14 minutes, 21.2 seconds. The mark still reigns as the best in SOU history. So when dad suggested the sport to his son, the idea hit home. "I just got into running about a year and a half ago," said Morgan, 17. "My dad asked me if I wanted to try cross country." It took Morgan all of a month to follow in his dad's illustrious footsteps. "His fist season in cross country, he ended at like 17:09 or high 16s [for 5,000 meters]," Cornet said. "You know, good times for a sophomore, but nothing stellar." Since then, it's been nothing but hard work and determination - a deadly duo that have thrust Morgan into the spotlight Kicking it up a notch Morgan wrapped up his sophomore track season - his first ever - with heartbreaking loss to fellow Grizz runner David Richardson in the 3,000 at the Southern Oregon Conference championships. Richardson beat Morgan out at the wire to capture second place and the final state-qualifying position. Morgan finished in 9:02.76, five seconds behind first and second. This season, Morgan may be the man to beat in the SOC. "I've worked hard," Morgan said. "I've put in a lot of miles over the winter." His long runs in the hills above Ashland - the Toothpick and Four Corners are two of his favorite stomping grounds - have clearly paid off. Last Saturday, at the Centennial Invitational in Portland, Morgan tied for fourth place in the 3,000 with Klamath Union's Kevin Pellegrino in 8:35.32. "I just like competing with people," Morgan said. "I like the feeling of doing really well in a race." Setting the school record was one of those moments for Morgan, and what he considers his greatest achievement in running, for the time being. It was also his opportunity to show Pellegrino - last year's district champion in the 3,000 - and the rest of the SOC that Morgan is here to stay. Just run He runs early in the morning just to stay fit. He doesn't like to take time off because it makes him feel out of shape. He skips the special diets and good-luck charms for sheer effort. "I've basically dedicated myself to this sport," Morgan said. "I really don't do much else anymore." Being surrounded by teammates and coaches who feel the same way about the sport has been a huge boost for Morgan. Although his dad no longer competes, Morgan's family remains very involved. The Ashland head track coach, Bob Julian Jr., continues to race in open events. With the likes of junior Andy Wright and sophomores Spencer Booney and Cameron Barleen to train with on the Grizz squad, Morgan always has someone to run with - and all four of them will be together next year as well. "He benefits from a lot of things," Cornet said. "He has great support at home. He's also very fortunate that Bob is still a competitive runner. He's surrounded at all distances by people who can push him." Morgan hopes he can push himself far beyond what he's already achieved. Long-term, he wants to race in the 5,000 for the University of Oregon because of the great long-distance running tradition the school has established. Right now, he wants to beat Pellegrino, win a district title in the 3,000 and place in the top-five at state. And then there's his senior year. "I definitely want to win state next year," Morgan said. "I think that's what my big goal is." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams