Graydon Morris trots out for the pre-race line up announcements at the 2017 Foot Locker Nationals
This year marks the 33nd year of Gatorade honoring the nation's best high school athletes. Gatorade has announced Aledo sophomore Graydon Morris as its 2017-18 Gatorade Texas Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. Morris is the first Gatorade Texas Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year to be chosen from Aledo High School.
Graydon Morris Athlete Profile
The Gatorade award not only recognizes athletic excellence, but it also recognizes high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse. Morris has volunteered for several community outlets and causes at same time maintaining a 3.69 GPA.
Athletically, Morris was able to put together an outstanding cross country season of great individual performances to win this award.
He didn't have it easy this season as he started things out by placing third at the Southlake Carroll Invitational. From there he would not lose another meet as won every race he participated up to the state meet. He won the UIL 5A state championship this past season with a time of 14:58.9. In the post season, he faced some very tough competition. He was third at the Foot Locker South Regionals and then went on to place second at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in 15:23.3.
Morris also represented Team USA internationally as he was selected to run at the Great Edinburgh XCountry in Edinburgh, Scotland.
For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.
