After starring on the track for the Aledo Bearcats, Gracie Morris initially went to the University of Texas in Austin to extend her running career. One year later, however, she took her talents 20 miles east of her hometown as a transfer to TCU.
From there, Morris shined her brightest – breaking seven school records before her recent graduation.
“The biggest thing to achieve greatness in this sport is consistency and patience,” Morris said. “You have to be disciplined and build year after year. You can’t compare your journey and timing to anyone else’s and one day it will finally click. Leading up to college training became pretty tricky. I had surgery on my foot sophomore year and was still trying to balance how to stay healthy.”
Whether she sustained an injury or changed her competitive and academic venue, Morris was well prepared for a dominant career for the Horned Frogs. The practice and dedication she has shown developed from a young age.
“I first got into track when I was 8 years old,” Morris said. “My twin brothers’ (Graydon) teacher saw us running at recess and told my mom to put us on a summer track team.
“The previous head coach at TCU, Darryl Anderson, convinced me to transfer to TCU by showing me that a smaller program can be more individualized and caring toward the athletes. They cared more about my health, individual success, and future.”
Morris owns or is a part of school records in seven different events – the outdoor 800-meter run, outdoor 1500, outdoor 4X800 relay, outdoor distance medley relay, indoor 800, indoor mile run and the indoor DMR. With an impressive set of personal accolades on the track, Morris hopes to see the sport continue to grow in notoriety within the program and outside through increased recognition.
“I hope to help TCU establish more of a distance program,” Morris said. “In the past it’s been more of a sprint school. I also hope to inspire other local kids to get into the sport and look at TCU as an option.
Morris was named a 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Second Team All-American in the 1,500.
2024 NCAA OTF Second Team All-American (1500)
TCU outdoor 800 school record – 2:03.15
TCU outdoor 1500 school record – 4:10.35
TCU outdoor 4x800 school record – 8:31.94
TCU outdoor distance medley relay school record – 10:53.34
TCU indoor 800 school record – 2:05.59
TCU indoor mile school record – 4:40.81
TCU indoor DMR school record – 11:04.92
2024 Big 12 OTF 1500 medalist (fifth)
2022 NCAA Outdoor Honorable Mention All-America (1500)
2023 Big 12 OTF 1500 bronze medalist
2022 Big 12 OTF 1500 medalist (fourth)
2022 Big 12 ITF mile medalist (fourth)
No. 1 indoor 800 (2:05.59)
No. 1 indoor mile (4:38.73)
No. 1 indoor DMR (11:04.92)
No. 1 outdoor 800 (2:03.15)
No. 1 outdoor 1500 (4:10.35)
No. 1 outdoor 4x800 (8:31.94)
No. 1 outdoor DMR (10:53.34)
No. 3 indoor 3000 (9:31.49)
800 – 2:03.15
1500 – 4:10.35
Mile – 4:38.73
3000 – 9:31.49
5000 – 16:49.53
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