Senior has spent career chasing graduated Dover High star Lilly
By MIKE FINNEY
Staff reporter
03/21/2003
GEORGETOWN --
Marcus Morris is hoping to see an abundance of sunshine this spring.
That is because the Sussex Tech senior sprinter finally will be able to
break out of the long shadow cast by Dover standout Jason Lilly, who
graduated last year and is now at Boston College on a football
scholarship.
Morris is not taking anything for granted, knowing there will be many
other sprinters ready to fill Lilly's vacancy this spring. But he is
excited about the opportunity.
"It kind of makes it a little harder, because everybody expects me
to step up because he's not here any more," Morris said.
"It was a challenge, because every time I raced him I tried to
beat him. It was like motivation for me most of all. I was close the last
time I raced him, but in the final 100 feet, he pulled away."
It was a feeling that Morris experienced too many times over the past
two indoor and outdoor track seasons.
That is what happens when an athlete is entered in the same races as
Dover's former phenom - the 200, 400 and 4 x 400-meter relay.
Sussex Tech coach Marty Cross said there will still be plenty of
competition left for Morris in those races, most notably Newark's Brandon
Reeves in the 400 and Delcastle's Michael Downs in the 200.
"It's a good opportunity, but there's still some really good
sprinters around," Cross said. "It's not like Lilly's gone, so
the door's open. But there are some opportunities that are available that
weren't available when Jason was around."
So, Morris is working out extra hard this spring, eagerly making the
long hike to the six-lane, light-blue track at Sussex Tech.
"I think most of it is just working hard," said Morris.
"The 400 is my toughest race and you need a lot of conditioning and
speed. So, I have to work extra hard, because not only do I have to worry
about conditioning, but I have to worry about my speed, too.
"You really can't take too many days off. I have to start
practicing harder on Saturdays. We practice Mondays through Fridays with
Saturdays optional. But to be one of the best, you've got to train harder
than everybody else."
So Morris is at the track as often as he can be, going through
300-meter workouts and 600-meter workouts. Never the 400.
"I do 300's for speed work and 600's to help my finishes
more," he said.
And while he enjoys the accolades the sprints bring him, it is the 4 x
400 relay that he enjoys the most.
There is something about being a part of a team that Morris relishes.
That is why he still says he likes football better than track. He has
played quarterback, running back and defensive back for the Ravens.
"I always loved football," Morris said. "I just love the
team sport. I played quarterback almost my whole career. I just like being
in charge of the team."
And he is definitely in charge of the Ravens' 4 x 400 relay. He runs
the anchor leg in an event that can often decide a meet's outcome, being
the last running event of a meet.
"It is the most exciting race," he said. "When it's a
close race, the fans get into it and I like running with my teammates.
"I suppose it's a lot of pressure running the last leg, but I'm
always pretty confident that I'm going to win."
Cross said that confidence comes from dedication.
"He's a real hard worker," said Cross. "He'll run the
same workouts as the rest of our team but won't take the rest intervals in
between. He just pushes himself. He's self-motivated and is really a
pleasure to coach."
And now he has earned his day in the sun.
 Special to The News Journal/DEE MARVIN |
| Marcus Morris (right) warms up with Sussex Tech teammate Tim Palmer. Morris works out in the 300 and 600 meters. "I do 300's for speed work and 600's to help my finishes more," he said. |
 Special to The News Journal/DEE MARVIN |
| Marcus Morris has played quarterback, running back and defensive back for the Ravens' football team. |
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