By Tanner Russ
The old adage the more things change, the more they stay the same certainly holds true for Silverton’s long-distance phenomenon, Morgan Anderson. Once an ardent Ducks supporter as the daughter of a University of Oregon alum, she wound up studying and running at Oregon State.
Once the leader of the pack at Silverton High School, she had a new view her freshman year.
“Being a freshman again really wasn’t that bad. My teammates were all very welcoming and the ‘initiation’ process was practically nonexistent,” Anderson said. “The biggest challenge was having so many teammates who were all incredibly talented and fast!”
At Silverton, Anderson was peerless. She holds school records for the 3,000 meters, 1,500 meters, the senior class record for the 800 meters, and was a member of the record-setting 4×400 relay team. She went to OSU with a complete resume.
But all the hype didn’t go to her head, according to OSU cross country and track and field head coach Kelly Sullivan.
“I’m very pleased with Morgan. She’s got great character, is a great student, she has a great family, and is a team person. She fit in well and is very coachable,” Sullivan said. “She’s a great young lady.”
Sullivan and his program also have the new Whyte Track and Field Center to show off. The facility was a boon for Anderson.
“Coming in as a freshman, I got the privilege to have a new track to use right off the bat. I got pretty spoiled,” she said.
But in October of 2012, Anderson suffered a nose fracture and a concussion in a bicycle crash that sidelined her for the rest of the cross country season. Add to that a bout with mononucleosis before the spring track season, and it looked to be a bleak beginning.
Sullivan decided to “redshirt” her. NCAA athletes are eligible to compete in their respective sports for up to five years, but can only compete in uniform for four years. The odd year out is a deemed a “redshirt.” Anderson trained and competed alongside her teammates, and her times were noted with those of her teammates, but she was listed as unattached. That also means that she has four more years to compete and improve.
“I sometimes pace myself to a point that I don’t take risks in a race and play it too safe, so right now I’m working on overcoming that mental block and having confidence in my ability to push myself in a race and be able to finish strong,” Anderson said.
Sullivan sent her and her teammates “suggested” workouts for the summer.
“All summer training is optional due to NCAA rules,” Anderson said. “But if you don’t show up in shape the first day, you’re off to a slow start.”
The amount of running was a drastic change for Morgan. In high school, Anderson would run 20 miles a week in track and field, and 25 miles a week in cross country. At OSU, the low end of Anderson’s running is 40 miles a week. The high end is 50.
When people think of Anderson, they think of the runner and student-athlete dressed in black and orange. That hasn’t changed, neither has her goal setting.
“This season I want to race at (the) Pac-12 (meet), and I would like to get to 21 minutes for six kilometers,” Anderson said. “OSU has been very good to me. In high school I never thought I’d call Corvallis home, much less be a proud Beav. I’m really excited to keep exploring my major (exercise and sports science) this year and to utilize even more of what OSU has to offer.”
