For eighth grader Riley Morrison, it’s not so much the competition, but the solitude that keeps her running.

“I like running and it’s my time to pray,” the Ebenezer Middle School student said. “I don’t focus on the running. This is my time to think about myself.”

Well, other runners in the area might want to take notice of Morrison. She led the Lady Rebels runners in Thursday’s Shootout at Ebenezer cross country race Thursday, finishing the 3.1-mile course in 27 minutes, 30 seconds.

Along with her teammates and coach Mick Danielson, Morrison’s father Barrett Morrison and grandfather Chuck Morrison also offered words of encouragement during the race.

Morrison finished 40th out of 70 varsity racers.

That should make her 14th birthday on Sunday a little sweeter.

Kristin Burgstiner finished the race in 29:50 and Amber Tinney in 31:11.

Freshman Hank Campbell led the ECHS boys runners, finishing in 20:32. Nick Cannon finished in 21:44; Brandon Douberly, 22:30; Tiras Thompson, 22:58; Brandon Pearce, 23:42; Chris West, 24:00 and Will Elmgren, 25:23.