A typical athlete’s schedule is tough, but repetitive: sleep, eat, practice, study, more practice, and then the cycle begins again. Within the eight hours automatically reserved for practice in the off-season, and the 15-20 hours required from a typical athlete in their regular season, it is hard to imagine having time for anything else.
But meet Pepperdine senior LeeAndrea Morton, who beat the odds to become a well-rounded individual with many talents and responsibilities.
In addition to being an NCAA Division 1 cross-country athlete, Morton has been able to excel academically and serve as a leader who gives back to those around her in many different ways.
She proudly admits that “cross-Country is only one small aspect of my life.”
One of her non-sports priorities is the microfinance club that she started with senior Rebecca Faulkner and recent graduate Rachel Williams. Morton became interested in microfinance after reading “Banker to the Poor” by Muhammad Yunus.
“We make loans every two weeks to poor entrepreneurs,” said Morton. The club loans money to needy entrepreneurs with colossal ideas. Their clients use the money they receive to start their business. These clients use their profits to buy leather goods that the microfinance club sells every Wednesday at lunch.
The club then uses this money to fund to make more loans to entrepreneurs. With this model, the entrepreneurs are able to pay back their loans and keep the club going.
“We don’t need to over-fundraise because we always have new money coming in,” says Morton.
Morton decided to help spread awareness for microfinance by taking a trip to Argentina along with Faulkner and Williams last summer to make a documentary about microfinance.
“The purpose of the documentary is to demonstrate the reality of microfinance. It’s not a silver bullet,” says Morton. “It’s a hard process that involves lots of failures, but when successful, it makes invaluable changes in the lives of the borrowers.”
Failures and disappointments are something Morton is used to. She’s had a few of her own, but she has also pursued learning to push through and develop a remarkable tenacious nature.
Morton began her athletic career as a soccer player. After playing for 15 years throughout her life and, at first, for Pepperdine, she decided to make the switch to cross country after her freshman year. “After getting cut from soccer my freshman year, I decided to run cross country,” said Morton. “It presented a new challenge that I was ready to pursue.”
Morton’s ankle required surgery in the midst of her first year in cross country. After enduring the seemingly minor surgery she experienced nerve damage, and couldn’t run for eight months. “The recovery time was originally only supposed to be three months,” said Morton.
Finally, after being cleared to compete her junior year, Morton experienced a stressed reaction in her foot that ended her season after one race. But, even after this shortcoming, she stayed positive. “I knew it would eventually be over,” she says “It got me down sometimes, but I just kept hope.”
After recovering with walking, biking, and swimming Morton is now competing in her last year at Pepperdine. Morton is excited and ready to finish what she set out to accomplish her sophomore year- a complete and successful season.
However, Morton is keeping it all in perspective. “This season it is an accomplishment to be able to run faster, and take the journey to getting back where I was. I’m excited to see how fast I can get.”
Morton also served as a Christian camp leader at Camp Pine Cove in East Texas. “We tried to acknowledge God in everything,” said Morton. Morton counseled 8th and 9th grade girls and taught them how to do many activities such as mountain biking.
In addition to being involved with the community and being athletically gifted, Morton also has a comedic side. She is a member of the PIT, Pepperdine’s improvisation troupe. She is thankful for this experience because it has helped her to “think on my feet and find comedy in every situation.”
Morton takes her nurturing and optimistic qualities everywhere she goes. “She is a great person to have on the team,” said teammate Lauren Lodge. “She is always excited and encouraging to the team. She serves a spiritual leader.
She manages to give her full effort in all that she does.
“It’s hard [to balance], but God stretches me,” says Morton. “He gives me peace when I fail, and encourages me to try new things.”
Cross country serves as a mechanism to reinforce her ability to do many things. “It allows me to process my thoughts and have time to myself,” says Morton. “It helps me to mentally prepare for my day and appreciate the world.”
Morton’s support group also has a big effect on her positive outlook. “I have made my best friends in cross-country,” added Morton.
Her cross country coach, Robert Radnoti, also inspires her. “I’ve learned a lot from how he has triumphed through rough times in his life,” says Morton. “He has been one of the first coaches who genuinely cares about me.”
Radnoti returns the favor, saying he is inspired by Morton. “I read a book she gave me, and it has inspired me to partake in microfinance in Hungary,” said Radnoti.
When Morton’s time here at Pepperdine comes to an end, her drive and dedication will be missed. But her hope is that “Microfinance is sustained here with the most effective social effort.”
Morton has made a definite mark on the people that surround her, but they have made her experience at Pepperdine memorable as well.
“I will miss the community of believers,” said Morton. “Before I came here I had nothing like it, but I will try to seek one like it when I leave.”
