By Lee Davis
Nobody has to tell Anna Grace Morgan about the spectacular history of the Mountain Brook girls cross-country team.
She has it in her bloodline.
Morgan’s older sister Madeline was a standout runner for the Lady Spartans a decade ago. The elder Morgan was named Over the Mountain Athlete of the Year and earned a running scholarship to Duke University. Anna Grace is following the tradition as Mountain Brook seeks its 14th consecutive state championship – a streak of domination that is unprecedented in Alabama high school athletics.
“One reason I think we’ve been so successful is continuity,” Morgan said. “So many of us ran under (former) Coach (Greg) Echols and continued under Coach (Michael) McGovern. We’re a really close-knit group that understands what it takes to be successful in cross-country. And none of us want to be a part of the team that ends the winning streak.”
Morgan – who also runs indoor and outdoor varsity track – is a true believer in the total experience of cross-country running.
“It’s all so enjoyable for me,” she said. “The beautiful scenery and being out in nature makes it so special, as opposed to running in circles such as on a track.”
There’s only one negative to cross-country running in Morgan’s mind. “I really don’t like running on gravel,” she said, laughing
The successful cross-country runner is a different breed, according to Morgan.
“The first thing is that it’s a 5-kilometer race, so you’ve got to be ready for the long haul,” she explained. “You also know that you’re going to be hurting before it’s over, so you have to be determined to finish no matter what happens.”
Another wild card is unpredictability.
“You never know what you might see,” she said. “I’m not concerned about animal life. About the only thing I’ve ever seen is a chipmunk. But if you put your foot in the wrong place, you could come up with a sprained ankle. Or it’s easy to get something in your shoe. There are a lot of factors you don’t get with running on a standard track.”
As is the case with many runners, Morgan believes mental toughness is an important factor in being successful.
“Honestly, I forget what I’m thinking about in most races,” she said. “I try to relax and keep pushing. If I’m struggling in a race, I try to think about all the other girls and how they are experiencing the same pain as me and depending on me as I’m depending on them. It’s much easier to run harder knowing you have to run well for your team.”
Morgan was a major contributor to last year’s championship, finishing a strong fifth in the state meet as then-teammate Frances Patrick took first place honors. She’d like to do even better in her senior season.
“It would be great to finish in the top three, but of course the goal is to win,” she said. “The most important thing is for the team to repeat as state champions.”
Her breakout race came in the Chickasaw Trails run last season, where Morgan’s performance produced another fifth place finish.
“I was running with a pack and then suddenly there were only two people in front of me,” she recalled. “It was the best I’d done in a huge race like that and it set a great precedent for the rest of the season.”
McGovern thinks Morgan’s experience and work ethic are keys to her success.
“With four years of varsity experience, Anna Grace has an immeasurable amount of firsthand knowledge to draw on,” he said. “She is one of the most mature runners I’ve had the opportunity to coach. She is an incredibly smart racer and is willing to push past her limits in practice. I’m expecting her to have a good year.”
Morgan began running for fun in the sixth grade and moved on to competitive running by junior high school. She admits that her sister’s influence played a role in her choice.
“Madeline certainly didn’t pressure me to go out for the track team, but I know she was pleased when I made the decision to do it,” she recalled. “Ever since then, she has been a true mentor to me. Madeline has never told me what to do, but she’s always been there to answer my questions and help me any way she can.”
While Morgan’s thoughts are focused on her senior season, she admits that the idea of competing at the next level is attractive to her.
“I think I’d like to run in college, but time will tell,” she said. “The main thing now is to make sure Mountain Brook keeps winning.”
If Mountain Brook wins that mind-boggling 14th consecutive blue trophy, it probably means Anna Grace Morgan avoided the gravel.
