For Morris, running for U.S. in Scotland feels 'really surreal'

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Graydon Morris from Aledo, Texas will become the youngest athlete to represent the U.S. at the 14th annual Great Edinburgh XCountry International Challenge on Saturday at Holyrood Park in Scotland. 

Morris, a high school sophomore, turned 16 less than a month ago. 

His strong run to second place Dec. 2 at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships put him in a position to consider extending his cross country season and making the trip. INTERVIEW

"The main plan was to go and place as high as I could at Foot Locker," Morris said. "(Scotland) was a bonus and a little unexpected. I thought I would go into a break."

WEBCAST INFO (Note: Junior races won't be shown live but could be shown in a highlight video)

The 6-foot-3 Morris is quickly becoming the next big thing in high school distance running, and yet the past two months have also been "bittersweet."

Morris' twin sister, Gracie, is also a high quality distance runner. She won the Texas 5A state title last spring in track and placed third this fall in cross country. 

However, at Foot Locker South, a nagging foot injury caused Gracie to drop out of the race even though she was up near the front of the pack. A top-10 finish would have qualified her for Foot Locker, too. 

A trip to the doctor revealed that she had a broken navicular bone in the top of her foot. While Graydon was preparing for a big finish at Foot Locker, Gracie went under the knife to have the bone repaired. 

"It's one of those things that's bittersweet," Graydon said Thursday from Scotland. "I'm very happy to have the opportunities to compete in the races that I am right now. But knowing that she could most likely could have made it as well, makes it a little bit hard. Being away from something you love so much is hard, and I know what she's going through."

When the box full of U.S. team apparel arrived at the Morris household, almost all of it was in a size much too large for Graydon to share with his sister. 

But there was something, a headband, that Graydon said, "I wouldn't have worn anyway."

Through the years, the sibling rivalry has been a "friendly competition," said the twins' mom, Lisa Morris. They turned 16 on Dec. 17.

"As competitive as they are, they may be sad for themself, whatever they're going through, but they're excited for the other one," she said. "(Gracie) was telling him, 'Graydon, there's no reason you can't go over there (to Scotland) and win this race.'"

For Graydon, Saturday's race is another valuable experience and stepping stone. He said he felt jet lag for the first time in his life Thursday and he's soaking up every minute of the trip. 

"It's honestly, really surreal," Morris said. "Representing the U.S., it's a real honor. I'm blessed to live in the country that I do, and to represent it is really amazing."