THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 26, 1994 TAG: 9410260590
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Matt Morgan isn't the biggest, strongest or fastest cross country runner.
He's just the new Beach District champion.
It wasn't supposed to be that way.
Going into the meet at Mount Trashmore last Wednesday, Tallwood's Billy Edwards and First Colonial's Zac Halm were ranked ahead of the Kellam junior in the South Hampton Roads poll.
But it didn't matter. Morgan decided to play the rabbit - staying in front of a tight pack. Except for a few short stretches, he led the entire race.
And in the final mile, he broke away and won in a time of 16:47 - 12 seconds ahead of Halm and 19 seconds faster than Edwards.
In doing so, he led the Knights to their third straight team title and captured for himself this week's boys' athlete-of-the-week honor from The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star.
Not bad for a guy who only took up cross country last year.
``I started running some in the eighth grade and did indoor and outdoor track in the ninth,'' said Morgan, a 5-foot-6, 125-pound 17-year-old who moved up to this week's No. 3 spot in the rankings. ``I started running cross country and running all year, last year.''
Morgan and his competitors knew he had the talent to win the district meet, but nobody was more surprised than Morgan at how he pulled away from the field at the end.
``Yes, I did kind of surprise myself,'' he said with a smile. ``I mean, I knew I was capable.''
Kellam athletic director Roy Ammons - who has long been associated with Beach track and field - said the Knights' No. 1 runner is ``all heart.''
Morgan attributes that to God.
``I had my priorities straight that day,'' said the member of Kempsville Presbyterian Church. ``I was running that race for God. Things were clicking for me.''
Morgan will need all the inspiration he can get in the Eastern Region meet Nov. 3 at Newport News Park.
He will again face Edwards and Halm, along with Great Bridge's Eric Adams and Mike Donnelly - the top two runners in South Hampton Roads. Then there is Lafayette's Seneca Lassiter - the region favorite.
``My work ethic is better this year and I'm focusing more,'' Morgan said. ``I just have to keep training.'' by CNB