Marysville High School graduate Morgan Forney is pictured during an MHS meet. Forney has earned NAIA All-American honors for cross-country. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Morgan Forney was a cross-country and track standout while she was a student at Marysville High School.
She is continuing that trend as a collegiate runner.
Forney was recently named an All-American after the NAIA cross-country national meet earlier this month.
Forney, who is a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s cross-country team, earned that honor after the meet in which she ran a personal record time of 18:32.69.
She placed 35th out of 326 runners in the women’s 5K.
The top 40 finishers earned All-American honors.
“It was very exciting to become an All-American,” said Forney. “God is real and evident.
“I’m thankful for all the people – coaches, family and friends – who got me to this place.”
Forney said she got off to a slow start in the race that was held at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
“It was a little slower than I’m used to,” she said. “I think I held back a little bit.
“That, however, motivated me,” said Forney. “I saw one of the girls from my conference ahead of me and I went after her.
“I also heard people yelling my name and cheering me on,” she said. “That helped me push through.”
The national cross-country meet was held this spring after being canceled during the fall.
“That was because of COVID-19,” said Forney. “We had a few cross-country meets during the fall, but they moved the national meet to this spring.”
Forney, who also competes on the Mount Vernon Nazarene women’s track and field team, said she had to miss one track meet at Walsh University due to the cross-country competition.
The 2018 Marysville High School graduate is running a variety of events for her collegiate track team.
“I’m competing in the 1,500, 800 and the 5K,” she said. “I’m also a member of the 4 x 400 relay team and also compete in the steeplechase.
“It’s been an exciting season so far.”
Prior to the start of the spring track season, Forney competed for MVNU’s indoor team.
She was part of the distance medley relay team that placed 14th during the national indoor meet.
“We went into the meet ranked 17th,” she said.
Forney competed on the relay team with Kalen Shackleford, Missy Emory and Kaitlin Meade.
The foursome turned in a time of 12:52.
Forney, a junior who still has two years of track and cross-country eligibility, is double-majoring in art and psychology.
“My future plans include going to graduate school at some point,” she said. “I want to go into the field of art therapy.”