GARY MORGAN

Birthday: January 7th, 1960
Current Residence : Michigan
College: Oakland Community College

PRS

Outdoors
20 km - 1:26:57
50 km - 4:13:13

Indoors
5000m - 19:55

Morgan got his start race walking at a 1975 AAU track meet where he competed at the age of 15 in the 1 mile walk.  Morgan's first race was clocked in 10:45 and he never looked back. Morgan raced at the AAU's for three summers.  Each summer he would train for approximately 3 weeks. In 1976, Morgan went to AAU National Championship meet and finished 17th with a much improved time of 8:06.

In 1980 after running a marathon in 2:44, Morgan decided to race walk. He met Frank Alongi, became his coach for many years. Morgan's career spanned 17 national titles and peaked when he won the 1988 Olympic Trails.  The race was described by most as a death march, 95 degree heat - nearly 100% humidity. The heat was so bad, Morgan doesn't remember his time.

Morgan went on to finish 2nd in the 1992 Olympic trials, however by 1992 you no longer were guaranteed a spot on the Olympic Team simply by finished top three in the trails.  A qualifying standard must also have been met.  In 1992, the standard was 1:25 and Morgan did not get to repeat his Olympic experience.

Again in 1996, Morgan finished top three at the trails, but did not get to go to the Olympics, because once again he did not have the qualifying standard. Morgan went on to qualify for the Olympic Trials two more times for a total of five. 

While not achieving Olympic gold, Morgan achieved Olympic Festival gold.  A three time participant, he won it once. In 1997 he was honored by the New York Athletic Club for his achievements and was named the Athlete of the Year.

Morgan continues to train and race. He has given numerous talks as a motivational speaker and has had the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch in 1996 and 2002.  To cross train, Morgan mountain bikes and cross country skis.

20K US Ranking by Track and Field News
1999
       9th - 1:33:00
1998
       4th - 1:36:49
 1997
       4th - 1:30:24
1996
       3rd - 1:31:00 
1995
       3rd - 1:27:38 
1994
       8th - 1:31:04
1993
       6th - 1:29:31 
1992
       3rd - 1:29:42 
1991
       3rd - 1:26:57
1989
       2nd - 1:28:06
1988
       1st - 1:27:26
1987
       4th - 1:27:31 
1985
       9th - 1:34:18
50K US Ranking by Track and Field News
2000
       6th - 4:37:02
1999
       5th - 4:13:13
Major U.S. Championships (Indoors)
1992
       5000M - 19:55.60
Major U.S. Championships (Outdoors)
2000
       30K - 2:47:22
1999
       5K - 22:01
       2 hour - 25,033 meters
1998
       30K - 2:25:37
       40K - 3:21:37
1997
       2 hour - 24,616 meters
1996
       25K - 1:54:58.5
1995
       5K - 20:54
1993
       25K - 2:02:31
1991
       5K - 20:33
       2 hour - 25,693 meters
1989
       2 hour - 25,710 meters
1988
       20K Olympic Trials - 1:34:12
1987
       10K - 44:05
1986
       10K - 43:17
1985
       2 hour - 23,422 meters
       10K - 43:31

20K Olympic Games
1988 – 37th – 1:27:26– Seoul, Korea

20K World Championships
1987 – 29th – 1:28:08 – Rome, Italy

50K Pan Am Games
1999 – 4th – 4:40:29– Winnipeg, Canada

20K World Cup
1989 – 55th– 1:29:13 – L'Hospitalet, Spain

50K World Cup
1999 – 67th – 4:13:13 – Mezidon, France

20K Pan Am Cup
1988 – 13th - 1:35:32 – Mar del Plata, Argentina
1996 - 11th - 1:39:29 - Manaus, Brazil
1998 - 20th - 1:51:18 - Miami, USA

50K Pan Am Cup
1992 – DQ – Guatemala City
2000 - 18th - 5:02:06 - Poza Rica, Mexico

 

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