A Last Look At Morgan Lawler

(Photo provided by Morgan Lawler)

Personal Records:

200m - 28.79
400m - 59.36
800m - 2:15.77
1600m - 5:37.46
5K (xc) - 19:57.40

What other years were you close to making it to the state meet?  I am surprised that you did not qualify for the state meet the year you ran 59.36 in the open 400 meter dash!

Oddly when I ran 2:15.77 in the 800 my junior year at sections, that didn't qualify me for state. I finished 3rd and missed the state qualifying standard by about half a second. My sophomore year I only ran the 4x400 at sections because I had a stress fracture and was recovering from a sprained ankle. My relay team finished 3rd but qualified under the state standard time. I ran in State prelims and we qualified for finals, but the next day I couldn't run and gave up my spot to our alternate. I can still recall the frustration and confusion I felt while I was trying to warm up for the final. However, I've never doubted that I made the decision that was right for my team that day...and truthfully, it was really the only option anyway. Something that made that experience less devastating for me was that our alternate was a very deserving senior and seeing her end her career at the State Meet meant a lot. My teammates were also incredibly supportive and because of them, I still had a great experience at State that year!

Where were you born and what sports did you play before high school?

I was born in New Jersey but moved to Minnesota when I was still a baby. As a kid I played soccer, softball, basketball, and ran track of course.

Tell us about your track & field and cross country coaches.  What did you learn from them?

My track coach was Sara Hatleli and she has always believed in me and pushed me to try new events, for which I am very grateful. She often tells me I'm too hard on myself and always tells me just what I need to hear. She taught me that it's okay to be upset about a race for the minutes following it, but after that it's important to enjoy the atmosphere of the meet and focus on the next race. She cares a lot about the success of her team, as well as the individuals on it, and I'm very grateful for the relationship I've formed with her over the past several years. I'm also thankful to our assistant coach, KJ, who has never failed at calming my nerves or making me laugh before a race.

My cross country coach was Chris Harder. I only ran cross country my senior year but had a wonderful experience, due, in part, to his coaching. Harder is knowledgeable and passionate about running and his enthusiasm makes practice more fun. He stresses the importance of hard work, having goals, and believing in you. Harder taught me that whether a race goes good or bad it's important to reflect on it because something can always be better. I have a great amount of respect for Harder and thank him for all he's taught me about running and life. Fun fact: I'm fairly certain Harder can recite the times of every kid he's ever coached at every meet they ever ran at...seriously...it's crazy.


(Photo provided by Morgan Lawler)

Name a few teammates and how they inspired and motivated you.  Would you have been as good with out them? Why or why not?

During my four years at Rosemount, there were several teammates who helped me become a better runner. This year, my primary training partner was Sydney Hansen, who always inspires me to do more than I think I can. Training with her is great because we're able to switch off whose leading and we push each other to always do the extras (push-ups/planks/abs/hurdle drills.)

We encouraged one another every day and reminded each other that one workout, run, or race does not make or break a season. I consider her to be one of my closest friends and am very thankful that we got to share this season together. Other teammates who also impacted my past season are Tess Grunklee, Dani-Follett Dion, Kate Beckwith, Sidney Preator, Jenna Eichten, Maggie Tulay, and many more. We all want each other to succeed and go above and beyond to make one another feel like we will.

How did your parents influence your drive to compete in sports?  Why were they important?  How did they help you with your emotions?

My parents (who have been divorced since my move to Minnesota) have always held an interest in sports and encouraged me to participate in them. They have both coached me at some point in my athletic career and have always been incredibly supportive and involved. They're also both incredibly competitive and that's a trait that's evident in me as well.

My mom is my rock and she has always supported and adjusted well to my focus on running, even though she was very involved in my soccer career. She helps me prepare and recover from training and racing and always picks me up when something doesn't go as planned. She's always so excited and proud of me and I am very thankful for her enthusiasm and her never ending support. I've been told that she was a speedster so can thank her for that too.

My dad excelled in many sports in high school and was a state champion in the 800m his senior year. He continued his running and basketball careers in college and still loves to run. After college he ran road races and placed in the top 25 Americans when he ran the Chicago Marathon. I think it's safe to say I inherited my love for running from him... and hopefully a portion of his ability too. He has always supported my decisions to drop a sport so I can pick up a different one and encouraged me to focus on my primary passion, running. He has impacted my running career greatly because of the potential he always saw in me and the advice he's able to give me.

What are the most difficult obstacles you have had to overcome?  Has there been any adversity in your life?  What did you do to overcome it?

I've had to overcome a couple injuries and I've learned that it's important to be patient but productive.

Who are your top competitors?  Do you have friends on other teams?  What is your relationship like with them?

I really enjoy competing against Danielle Bellino of Lakeville North, Abbie Fuder of Shakopee, PattyJo English of Lakeville South, Molly Roach of Bloomington Jefferson and Kristyn Arends of Prior Lake. They're all extremely talented runners and I've experienced camaraderie with all of them.

What is your race strategy?  How do you make your decisions on what to do?

Typically I like to sit in 2nd or 3rd and kick with 200-300m left. This depends on who's in the race though and if the pace is decent, as I'm not opposed to leading.

Did you play other sports at the high school level?  How did those sports help you for track & field?

I played basketball until my sophomore year and I think that helped my agility and body coordination. I also played soccer until my senior year when I switched to cross country and would say that soccer helped my speed and endurance develop.

What is your training like on your own before track & field?  When did you start running this winter?

After the cross country season I took two weeks off then started winter training. I train by myself in the winter and just build up base miles until track season...with some occasional speed work thrown in. I also commit to doing a core routine and push ups in the winter.


(Photo provided by Morgan Lawler)

What about cross country?  Did you run during the summer?  What did you do?

My summer training was similar to my winter training, but honestly less diligent because I didn't know if I was going to run cross country or play soccer so I was more running for fun than training for a 5K.

What would you tell a younger you? 

I would say it's important to have a goal for each and every run, preferably specifying both a pace and distance. Also, do some sort of strength training consistently. Personally, I like planks, push-ups, and dumbbells.

Were you involved in academic or arts extra-curricular events too? 

At Rosemount I was a member of National Honor Society, was a Student Ambassador, and participated in DECA.

What will you miss about high school sports?

I'll miss the teammates who would always make me look forward to coming to practice both because I knew they would push me and make me laugh. I'll also miss the coaches who always created a fun environment and put their effort into making the team better.

Will you attend college next fall?  Why did you make the decision you did? Do you plan on competing in athletics?

In the fall I'll be attending The University of South Dakota and will continue my running career there. I chose USD because the size of the campus was ideal to me and they have the program I plan to major in. Another huge factor was that I really like the coach there and when I met the team it sealed the deal for me.

Is there anything else you would like to add?  Do you or your team do anything unusual?  What do you do for fun other than athletics? 

My team dances randomly all the time and we bring a portable speaker with us on our Saturday long runs.

(Photo provided by Morgan Lawler)