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Even during spring break Morgan Dyer ran.
The 2020 Elkhart Memorial graduate and Catherine Wolf Award winner put aside resting and relaxing while in Tennessee.
“I was down south in at the Great Smoky National Park and got some good running in,” said Dyer, “It was a good workout in the hills.”
Dyer was also back home in Elkhart to see her family at the end of spring break.
“There are two to three days off then I’m back to the grind,” Dyer said. “It’s full blast for me until the end of the year.”
Her busy collegiate running schedule will pick up again at the end of March, as Dyer will compete in outdoor track for Indiana State University.
Dyer’s fifth and final year as a cross country and track runner at Indiana State has been very satisfying.
“I had PR’s and season bests every race in cross country this year,” she said. “That was excellent to see. Also in indoor track my times were down considerably as the year went along and that led to me having a successful indoor season.”
The highlight of indoor season for Dyer came on February 14. On that day, she finished third with a career best time of 4:59.04 in the mile at a meet at Grand Valley State University.
“Chasing sub five minutes is something every miler wants to go for,” Dyer said. “I trusted my training and was confident. I felt good that day. I also have an exceptional (distance) coach (Brad Butler) who is great at developing runners.”
Dyer remembers vividly how the race unfolded.
“I had a scrappy first lap,” she said. “Then there was some pushing and shoving because you were in among an oversized group of runners. I established a good time and the good Lord blessed me. When the other girls made a move I made a move. In the back stretch two of my coaches told me I could do it and have a record breaking time. I ran and kicked hard during the last lap. I looked at the clock and put out a sigh of relief. There were smiles and a lot of cheers.”
Along with running in the mile for indoor track, Dyer competed in the 3,000 meters and was a member of the distance medley relay team.
That relay finished eighth with a time of 11:52.20 at the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship in Chicago in early March.
Dyer and her teammates performance in that relay helped Indiana State win the conference indoor title.
“Our hard work paid off,” she said. “Coach Angie Martin has helped our team progress and we’ve continued to be a championship team under her leadership.”
Covid and one year of redshirting for outdoor track opened up a fifth year of running for the Sycamores.
“I’m thankful that I got to race an extra year because many don’t,” Dyer said.
A stress reaction in both shins limited Dyer’s effectiveness as a runner as a freshman and sophomore.
“A lot of pounding when it comes to running,” Dyer said. “It can be a battle and you have to be mentally tough when you go through injuries. You have to tell yourself that can get through it, recover and be better afterwards.”
When her college track season resumes outdoor. Dyer will be competing in the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters.
“My goal in outdoor track is to make the first round of the NCAA regionals in the 1,500,” Dyer said.
That meet takes place in Jacksonville at the end of May.
Dyer admitted that she likes track over cross country.
“I enjoy cross country and the team aspect of it, but everyone is doing the same exact distance,” Dyer said.
“I enjoy more the faster races in track and racing on an oval.”
Dyer, who owns a 3.98 grade-point average, got her bachelor’s degree in excercise science and kinesiology in the winter of 2024.
In the spring, Dyer will get her master’s degree in exercise science and kinesiology.
“It worked out getting my master’s and continuing my running career,” Dyer said. “I’ve been hyper loaded up being a student and keeping my running eligibility within five years.”
Dyer has a framework on what she want’s to pursue next after she gets her master’s degree.
“I’m considering getting a PHD,” she said. “I still have a final decision to make on that.
“I absolutely want to keep running. I have my eyes on marathons. I want to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I also have an itching to do an ironman. I love being active.”
Dyer will always look back with fondness when it comes to her experience at Indiana State.
“I think if someone would have asked me my sophomore year if I would have a fifth year at Indiana State, I would have said, no,” Dyer said.
“But the past five years have been a home away from home for me. College is what you make of it and your team is what you make of it. I’ve had wonderful teammates and coaches and an excellent opportunity to go around the country.
“It was an awesome experience. Not many people get the chance to race at the Division I level. I made some great connections along the way and will leave lifelong friendships.”
Continue reading...
The 2020 Elkhart Memorial graduate and Catherine Wolf Award winner put aside resting and relaxing while in Tennessee.
“I was down south in at the Great Smoky National Park and got some good running in,” said Dyer, “It was a good workout in the hills.”
Dyer was also back home in Elkhart to see her family at the end of spring break.
“There are two to three days off then I’m back to the grind,” Dyer said. “It’s full blast for me until the end of the year.”
Her busy collegiate running schedule will pick up again at the end of March, as Dyer will compete in outdoor track for Indiana State University.
Dyer’s fifth and final year as a cross country and track runner at Indiana State has been very satisfying.
“I had PR’s and season bests every race in cross country this year,” she said. “That was excellent to see. Also in indoor track my times were down considerably as the year went along and that led to me having a successful indoor season.”
The highlight of indoor season for Dyer came on February 14. On that day, she finished third with a career best time of 4:59.04 in the mile at a meet at Grand Valley State University.
“Chasing sub five minutes is something every miler wants to go for,” Dyer said. “I trusted my training and was confident. I felt good that day. I also have an exceptional (distance) coach (Brad Butler) who is great at developing runners.”
Dyer remembers vividly how the race unfolded.
“I had a scrappy first lap,” she said. “Then there was some pushing and shoving because you were in among an oversized group of runners. I established a good time and the good Lord blessed me. When the other girls made a move I made a move. In the back stretch two of my coaches told me I could do it and have a record breaking time. I ran and kicked hard during the last lap. I looked at the clock and put out a sigh of relief. There were smiles and a lot of cheers.”
Along with running in the mile for indoor track, Dyer competed in the 3,000 meters and was a member of the distance medley relay team.
That relay finished eighth with a time of 11:52.20 at the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship in Chicago in early March.
Dyer and her teammates performance in that relay helped Indiana State win the conference indoor title.
“Our hard work paid off,” she said. “Coach Angie Martin has helped our team progress and we’ve continued to be a championship team under her leadership.”
Covid and one year of redshirting for outdoor track opened up a fifth year of running for the Sycamores.
“I’m thankful that I got to race an extra year because many don’t,” Dyer said.
A stress reaction in both shins limited Dyer’s effectiveness as a runner as a freshman and sophomore.
“A lot of pounding when it comes to running,” Dyer said. “It can be a battle and you have to be mentally tough when you go through injuries. You have to tell yourself that can get through it, recover and be better afterwards.”
When her college track season resumes outdoor. Dyer will be competing in the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters.
“My goal in outdoor track is to make the first round of the NCAA regionals in the 1,500,” Dyer said.
That meet takes place in Jacksonville at the end of May.
Dyer admitted that she likes track over cross country.
“I enjoy cross country and the team aspect of it, but everyone is doing the same exact distance,” Dyer said.
“I enjoy more the faster races in track and racing on an oval.”
Dyer, who owns a 3.98 grade-point average, got her bachelor’s degree in excercise science and kinesiology in the winter of 2024.
In the spring, Dyer will get her master’s degree in exercise science and kinesiology.
“It worked out getting my master’s and continuing my running career,” Dyer said. “I’ve been hyper loaded up being a student and keeping my running eligibility within five years.”
Dyer has a framework on what she want’s to pursue next after she gets her master’s degree.
“I’m considering getting a PHD,” she said. “I still have a final decision to make on that.
“I absolutely want to keep running. I have my eyes on marathons. I want to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I also have an itching to do an ironman. I love being active.”
Dyer will always look back with fondness when it comes to her experience at Indiana State.
“I think if someone would have asked me my sophomore year if I would have a fifth year at Indiana State, I would have said, no,” Dyer said.
“But the past five years have been a home away from home for me. College is what you make of it and your team is what you make of it. I’ve had wonderful teammates and coaches and an excellent opportunity to go around the country.
“It was an awesome experience. Not many people get the chance to race at the Division I level. I made some great connections along the way and will leave lifelong friendships.”
Continue reading...
