After running a 4:47 1600 and a 4:26 third place finish in the 1500 meter run at the US Junior Nationals behind Alexa Efraimson and Elise Cranny as an 8th grader, Bryn Morley came into high school with the pedigree and performances to instantly being great. The younger sister of one of the nation's top returning high school runners in Makena Morley, the Bigfork freshmen Bryn Morley has started out fast in her freshmen season of cross country running under 18 minutes in all of her races including a 4th place finish this past weekend at the Bob Firman Invitational. The younger Morley has some big goals for her 9th grade year and beyond and between having her sister to guide her this year and another talented freshmen from Montana in Annie Hill to push her the following 3 years, those goals appear to be obtainable. Check out our Future Stars spotlight interview with Morley below.
Interview with Bigfork (MT) freshmen Bryn Morley
How did you first get started running?
My sister started to run cross country her 6th grade year, and it looked really fun so that next summer I started running with my mom. And then I did a few 5k's and really fell in love with it!
You had a pretty incredible race at US Junior nationals with third place finish on the 1500 behind Efraimson and Cranny. How significant and excited were you with that race?
I was really excited. My goal was to get in the top three and stick with Alexa for as long as I could. And I had gotten a 4:47 1600 at my last track meet in Montana and I knew that was Elise's time in her state meet so I figured I could stay with her too. I was really happy, and I'm so happy I got to race Alexa before she went pro.
What kind of training and racing did you do prior to high school?
I trained like 30 miles a week in 8th grade all year round, but during the winter I would just take it easy. Before 8th grade, I would probably get 20 miles a week, but we decided I needed to get a little more so I could improve. And for racing I would do all the cross country races and the middle school Foot Locker race, and then I would just do the track meets in spring. Nothing in the winter, but my 8th grade year I did some more out of state track meets.
How much are you going to enjoy this year having a training partner and role model in your sister everyday as a teammate?
I'm already enjoying it. It's really cool to have someone that I can train with, and then compete with too. She pushes me to go harder in races. She's definitely a big factor in where I am today so it's been really cool to run with her in training and then work together as a team in races.
How have you felt about your first few races so far this season?
I had a really good first race. My second race was good too; I took first against my strongest competitor Annie Hill, but my third race at Mountain West Classic didn't go as well as I was hoping. I didn't go in with the right mind set, but it helped me remember why I love to race. So this last race I did in Boise went really well for me.
Were you aware that there was another great freshmen in your state in Annie Hill? Are you looking forward to that rivalry and competition over the next few years?
Yes I was! Just this last track season she stayed with me for most of the races. The last track race in the 1600 was great though I got 4:47 and she got a 4:48. It's really great to have someone who doesn't give up because we'll get to push each other for the next 3 years. I'm really excited to compete against her these next 3 years after Makena's gone.
What are you biggest goals for the remainder of the season?
I want to stay with Makena for as long as I can at state. I want to make it to Foot Locker Nationals and I want to get in the top 3,
What are areas you would like to improve upon most over the next 4 years of high school running?
I would like to beat my best previous time in the mile. I would like to improve my cross country racing because I've always been more of a track runner so I want to be better at cross country.
When you graduate high school in 2018, what would you like to look back and say you accomplished?
I would love to go in the 2:00's in the 800. In the 1600 I want to get in the low 4:40's. And in the 3200 I'm not quite sure yet. I also love the 400 this last track season I got a 1:04 so I want to go under 60 seconds.
What's the best advice that your sister has given you about handling the success, pressure and expectations of being a top tier distance runner?
She always tells me to keep it fun because that lessens the pressure. She is really mostly just a really good role model everyday.
