TRACK & FIELD, Warren JFK MORGAN RICE

Morgan Rice had a simple goal: get back to Columbus and defend her 100-meter hurdle state track title.

The journey to get back for the Warren JFK senior was not so simple. And the challenge to repeat proved to be the toughest.

“It was more relaxing because I’m familiar with the track and I didn’t have my first state jitters,” said Rice of her return to the state track and field meet. “But it was probably more pressure than last year, so I didn’t really relax.”

Not only did Rice run past her competition to repeat as champion, but she also took second in the 300 hurdles.

The two results will serve as a defining moment to an already impressive career.

“Freshman year, I never would’ve thought it was possible,” Rice said. “Then I started to work hard and I saw my hard work pay off.

“And everyone always told me anything is possible with hard work, and I never believed them, but as soon as you see the fruits of your efforts, it’s true.”

Rice’s parents have been there every step of the way, too. She wasn’t ashamed to admit her dad’s usually the one screaming in the stands at all of her meets.

He’s also usually the one behind the camera, which makes for some pretty interesting videos.

“They’re there, they’re always with me,” Rice said of her parents. “When I post [the videos] on Instagram or Facebook you can always hear him screaming in the background.

“But it wouldn’t be the same without that.”

Headed to Miami (Ohio) in the fall, Rice has lofty goals for herself at the next level, too. She’ll co-major in pre-med, meaning she takes all pre-med classes, but majors in something else.

Naturally, she’s thinking something challenging like business finance.

“It’s gonna be tough,” said Rice, who already has a couple college credits going thanks to AP classes. “I might have to do five years instead of four, but I think I should be able to handle it.”

Why wouldn’t she? She’s handled everything else that’s been in her way.

As for her goals on the track: “My college coaches told me to keep training hard. I’ll be a freshman, so I’ll be expected to get beat — I’m not going to be the star anymore — but that’s OK, I have no problem with that. I’ll just keep working harder.”