XC Watchlist: Mitch Morris- Cape Elizabeth HS

Athlete Name: Mitch Morris

School: Cape Elizabeth HS

Year of Graduation: 2015

2013 State Meet Finish: 8th in Class B 17:00.26

Tell us how your summer training is going?

Summer training is going very well. Our team has a lot of promising young runners and personally it’s felt great to get back into this type of training.

What are your goals for the upcoming season?

My biggest goal for the 2014 season is to lead my team to another state championship. I know we aren't exactly the favorites right now, but we’re a hardworking group and I think that with some time and effort another state championship could be a possibility.

How long have you been running and how did you get started?

The story of how I got into running is a long one, but is very interesting. It’ll probably be something i’ll write about in a future blog post, but I started running last summer, about a year ago.

Will you be competing anywhere out of state this season?

Yes, I will be competing at the Manchester Invitational in New Hampshire, and hopefully New England’s and Footlocker Regionals if everything goes well.

What is your favorite course to run in Maine?

I’m still pretty new at this and I’ve only run five courses at this point in my career, but so far I’ve really liked Twin Brook.

What is the toughest course to run in Maine?

Interestingly enough, for this I also choose Twin Brook. I like tough courses, they make races more about endurance and less about speed.

What meet during the regular season do you put extra emphasize on to compete well at?

I’d really like to do well at our first meet. It would be great to make a statement right away that our team is strong and prepared for a run at another state title. Also, my team has a very large Freshman contingent, and I think a small taste of victory early on in the season would help inspire them to work hard and push themselves throughout the season.

What is your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career & favorite cross country memory?

My favorite cross country race was last year’s state meet. It was my first state meet, I ran well, and I was able to pass several very skilled runners in my kick to help my team to a come-from-behind victory over an enormously talented Ellsworth team.

When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?

I like to eat, sleep, and spend time with friends.

Favorite quote?

“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” - Ernest Hemingway

What shoes do you train in?

I train in the New Balance 860 V3. I know these are a little out of date, but over the last year they’ve been great for high-mileage distance training. I’ve gone through about 5 pairs, and in my opinion, once you find something that works you should stick with it.

What shoes do you race in?

I race in Saucony Carreras.

What professional athlete would you most like to meet?

I know this isn’t really the audience for this, but I would love the chance to meet Paolo Maldini. He devoted his entire career, 25 years, to my favorite club soccer team A.C. Milan, and he has gone down in history as the greatest defender of all time. I really admire his sense of loyalty, and would love the chance to talk to him about all of his accomplishments.

What is something that most people don't know about you?

Up until my junior year, I played for Cape Elizabeth’s soccer team as a midfielder.

More on Morris

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