Morris excels at Junior Olympics

By Ted Allen

Published: July 30, 2008

Josh Morris only started running track and field a year and a half ago, but you wouldn’t know it from his performances at this past weekend’s National Junior Olympic Championships in Omaha, Neb.

Morris, who grew up playing soccer and basketball in Philadelphia before his father moved his family to Forest three years ago, earned all-American status in the 17-18 division in the 2,000-meter steeplechase, placing third in 6 minutes, 13.14 seconds, and the 5,000, finishing fourth in 15:39.43. He also took 11th in the 1,500 in 4:15.51 after qualifying in a personal best time of 4:09.93.

Team Virginia coach Fred Henderson, who coached Morris as a freshman two years ago at Liberty Christian Academy, said the rising junior, who isn’t sure what school he’ll attend this year, has unlimited potential.

“He’s competing against kids that have five to six years of experience,” Henderson said. “What’s this kid going to be like in five years? He’s really going to make a big impact wherever he goes.”

Morris, who turned 17 just three days before the start of the Junior Olympic national competition, said the experience was educational and motivational.

“I met a lot of people out there, a lot of great runners,” Morris said. “A lot of people were helping me and telling me what to do.”

That included Michael Williams, a rising sophomore at Baylor University who won the 2,000 steeplechase and 5,000 and placed second in the 1,500, and was the only other runner to qualify for the finals in all three of those events.

Henderson said Morris has made big changes and great strides in his race strategy this summer.

“When he used to go out, he used to go all out,” he said.

Now, he stays with the leaders for the majority of the race before out-kicking them in the final 300 meters.

“I just liked to go out fast,” Morris said. “When you race more and more, you learn.”

Josh’s dad, John Morris Sr., said, growing up competing on several high-level travel soccer teams, playing up an age level with his 18-month-older brother John since they were four and five, helped him tremendously.

“When there’s competition, they don’t get scared,” he said. “They’ve been competing since they were kids so it’s natural and when they get tested, they do not fold.”

“When he gets on the track, he knows there are guys that are faster than him, but it doesn’t faze him,” Henderson added. “When he can control his emotions, it gives him a leg up.”

Morris had only competed in the 2,000 steeplechase twice before, in Junior Olympic qualifying at the state and regional meets. The event, run primarily in college, features five jumping pits per lap over five laps.

He prefers cross country to track and is looking at transferring to Fork Union Military Academy, which has won the Virginia Independent Schools cross country state title 23 years in a row, or possibly to perennial Seminole District champion Jefferson Forest.

“God gave him a talent and we’re keeping him focused, on the right track, and giving him an opportunity to go to college and get an education and see how far he can go,” John Morris Sr. said. “I want him to be happy and to make the right choices.”