MIDLOTHIAN SENDS GIRLS AND BOYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS TO NATIONAL MEET; Dream Season for Coach Stan Morgan and the Midlo Trojans

Capping off a dream season, the Midlothian High School girls and boys cross country teams pulled off double wins in the Virginia AAA state cross country championships on November 11. Both teams then were rewarded with invitations to compete in the prestigious Nike Team Nationals meet in Portland, Oregon this Saturday, December 2. Going into the national meet, the Midlo girls are ranked #2 nationally, and the boys are ranked #11.

DigitalSports Richmond caught up with girls co-captain Mary "MC" Miller and boys co-captain Tommy Reese on Wednesday night. We also spoke with Midlo coach Stan Morgan.

DigitalSports Richmond: How do you feel about the upcoming race?

MC Miller: It's something; we've really worked hard for about a year. We can work hard and we play hard.

Tommy Reese: We're pretty darned excited. This has been a top goal since last year.

DigitalSports Richmond: What was your favorite moment this season?

MC Miller: The Manhattan Invite, because it was the first race where [the girls team] came together.

Tommy Reese: Winning states, of course, but Great American because it made the [boys] team bond.

DigitalSports Richmond: What was it like having Alan Webb appear at your recent pep rally? Did Webb say anything that stuck with you?

MC Miller: [Having Webb at the pep rally was] the most amazing thing that happened. Everyone was in complete shock.

Tommy Reese: Coach was put off a little [about Webb being present], because he didn't want this to go to our heads.

MC Miller: It was good to see a person so big like him.

Tommy Reese: He said, "If you think you can do it, you can."

# # # # #

DigitalSports Richmond also caught up with Coach Stan Morgan.

DigitalSports Richmond: What are the teams" chances in Oregon?

Coach Morgan: Tommy Reese has really stepped up. If the top 3 guys do well, and others do well, the [boys"] team could do well.

The girls will do well. Someone on [running website] Dyestat.com said the girls will win. That bothers me, because I don't want it to go to the girls" heads.

DigitalSports Richmond: What did you do to prepare the teams for nationals?

Coach Morgan: I gave the kids off-time after states. We got back in training a couple days later. Easy tempo today.

DigitalSports Richmond: How do you feel about the season?

Coach Morgan: Unbelievable " to have two teams win state " every coach's dream.

# # # # #