Morley shatters all-class state x-country record

MISSOULA — Bigfork’s Makena Morley won her third individual state cross country championship, shattering the all-class record in the process, Saturday afternoon during the state meet at the University of Montana golf course.

Morley finished her race in 16 minutes, 35.31 seconds to win the Class B girls title and break the all-class state record time, formerly set by Flathead’s Zoe Nelson in 2002, by nearly 15 seconds.

Morley beat the field by more than two and a half minutes. Eureka’s Alexandra Bartmess finished in fifth place, crossing the line in 19:39.03.

This isn’t the first time this year she’s broken one of Nelson’s marks at this course. Morley won the prestigious Mountain West Classic in a record time of 16:43 back on Sept. 28.

Morley beat her own Class B state record by more than a minute. She’s only the second female runner to break the 17-minute barrier in state history.

“She wasn’t going into the meet for time,” Bigfork coach Sue Loeffler said. “It wasn’t her focus. It’s pretty hard to push yourself when you’re that far ahead. Her goal was to relax, work on her form and push herself as hard as she could.”

She wasn’t the only Morley to make a strong showing at the meet. Running a little more than an hour earlier, her brother Logan nearly took the title for the boys, falling off the pace of Colstrip’s Tyus Mendoza at the end of the race. Logan finished in second place in 16:25.25, the only local runner in Class B to finish all-state (top 15 places). The Vikings’ Colton Woll placed 20th in 17:23.88.

“(Logan Morley) really ran well,” Loeffler said. “Him and (Mendoza) battled it out. Finally, that kid took charge. Logan had to hold off (Red Lodge’s Logan Beck), he did really well doing that, too.”

The Glacier boys had their best finish in school history, finishing second overall to claim their first trophy at the meet. The Wolfpack had two runners place all-state, led by Kade McCutcheon, who finished fourth in 15:37.21, and Logan Harmon, who finished 15th in 16:13.02.

“I knew Aidan (Reed of Helena, second in 15:21.84) and (Bozeman’s Jason Holmes, first in 15:13.35) would take off fast,” McCutcheon said.

“They took off, but I stayed with the second pack to get the best place I could. I just ran as hard as I could.”

The Wolfpack also got fast finishes from Nathan Connell (39th), Tevyn Stetson (66th) and Noah Hill (99th) to edge Helena High by 15 points in the team score. Bozeman finished all five of its scoring runners in the top 30 to easily win the team title. Flathead wound up in seventh place.

The Bozeman girls also had a dominant team, placing all five scorers in the top 10, setting the best team score ever with a 28. Billings Senior sophomore Christina Aragon won the individual title in 17:31.83.

Glacier was fifth and the Flathead 10th in team points. Glacier’s Corinne Hamilton finished 21st and Johanna Lembke finished 36th to lead the Bravettes.

“The girls ran well,” Glacier coach Mike McLean said. “That’s our best finish ever. We’ll go from there. I’m very happy with this year’s places.”

Polson’s Claudia Hewston finished fifth in the Class A girls race, crossing the line in 19:24.93, and Columbia Falls’ Samantha Mundel finished ninth in 19:31.8 to claim all-state honors.

The Whitefish girls narrowly missed placing in the top 15 but grouped together well, earning a second place team trophy with 126 points, edging Billings Central by three points. Corvallis won with a team score of 29, placing all five scorers in the top 12.

“Before this week we didn’t even think about having a chance at it,” Whitefish coach Sara Brist said. “Their times were coming down and they were sticking together. That (grouping) was the difference between second and third.”

The Whitefish boys were unable to repeat their state championship performance from a year ago, finishing fifth. E.J. Havens was the Bulldogs’ top finisher, ending the race in 16th place. Hamilton won the team title, placing four boys all-state.

The meet was pushed back an hour to avoid frost, some of which was still on the course as the Class AA boys led off the event at noon. By the close of the day it was perfect weather for running, floating around 65 degrees with no wind.

Glasgow won the Class B girls team title, its fourth in a row. The Scotties 16th state title also passed Flathead for most girls titles in state history. Red Lodge repeated as Class B boys champions.

Culbertson’s Chance Hyatt won the Class C boys race and Plenty Coups took the team title. Twin Bridges’ Jessica George won the Class C girls, leading the Falcons to the team title as well.

Class AA

Saturday

UM Golf Course

BOYS

Team scores – Bozeman 30, Glacier 99, Helena 114, Missoula Hellgate 116, Billings Senior 120, Billings West 136, Flathead 191, Billings Skyview 239, Helena Capital 267, Missoula Sentinel 270, Great Falls CMR 279, Missoula Big Sky 300, Great Falls 345, Butte n/a.

Individual Top 30

1, Jason Holmes, Boz, 15:13.25; 2, Aidan Reed, Hel, 15:21.84; 3, Hunter May, Boz, 15:22.59; 4, Kade McCutcheon, Gla, 15:37.21; 5, Dontae Baker, Cap, 15:37.31; 5, Dylan Johnson, Sen, 15:39.05; 6, Colter May, Boz, 15:45.35; 8, Michael Martell, Boz, 15:47.23; 9, Matt Brown, MBS, 15:50.52; 10, Jorey Egeland, Sen, 15:59.32;

11, Habib Mostefa, Boz, 15:59.97; 12, Shay Lavallie, CMR, 15:59.98; 13, John Szekely, Hgt, 16:04.68; 14, Mark Hovland, BW, 16:07.31; 15, Logan Harmon, Gla, 16:13.02; 16, Sagan Thorp, Hgt, 16:18.6; 17, Sylas Schutt, Flt, 16:20.00; 18, Layne Ryerson, Hel, 16:20.60; 19, Will Clarke, Hgt, 16:20.95; 20, Nathan Connell, Gla, 16:21.61;

21, Andrew McLane, BW, 16:22.23; 22, Carter Gall, Sen, 16:23.36; 23, Brennon Worthington, BW, 16:27.25; 24, Nic Raiser, Butte, 16:29.37; 25, Joe Swartz, Boz, 16:30.05; 26, Chance Kittle, Flt, 16:33.32; Tevyn Stetson, Gla, 16:38.05; 28, Erik Mason, Snt, 16:41.89; 29, Josh Barrows, Hel, 16:42.54; Sawyer Linke, Hel, 16:43.19.

GIRLS

Team scores – Bozeman 28, Billings Senior 81, Missoula Hellgate 128, Billigns West 162, Kalispell Glacier 169, Helena 181, Missoula Sentinel, 188, Billings Skyview 205, Helena Capital 249, Kalispell Flathead 251, Butte 252, Missoula Big Sky 282, Great Falls CMR 324, Great Falls 360.

Individual Top 30

1, Christina Aragon, Sen, 17:31.83; 2, Sabrina Sterbis, MBS, 18:00.43; 3, Caroline Hardin, Boz, 18:01.46; 4, Bridget Creel, Boz, 18:05.60; 5, Aja Starkey, Boz, 18:20.68; 6, Piper Meuwissen, Boz, 18:21.74; 7, Carly Smiedala, Hel, 18:26.09; 8, Jocelyn Elorriaga, Sen, 18:27.03; 9, Samantha Sayer, Hgt, 18;32.05; 10, Andie Creel, Boz, 18:43.16;

11, Amanda Nelson, Sky, 18:43.53; 12, Elena Borges, Sen, 18:48.47; 13, Miranda Foster, Hgt, 18:54.91; 14, Keegan Day, Sky,18;57.30; 15, Beth Jansma, Boz, 19:02.11; 16, Katarina Olsen, Cap, 19:05.32; 17, Allison Monahan, Hgt, 19:05.66; 18, Maddie Powers, Boz, 19;16.9; 19, Bailee Hanson, Butte, 19:22.43; 20, Hannah Schaffer, GFH, 19:24.88;

21, Corinne Hamilton, Glacier, 19:33.76; 22, Molly Langland, MBS, 19:36.02; 23, Hannah Ray, Sen, 19;36.53; 24, Taylor Grove, BW, 19:39.30; 25, Mercedes Erickson, Gla, 19:40.04; 26, Tiffany Lefebre, CMR, 19;40.33; 27, Abby McBroom, Cap, 19;41.02; 28, Molly MacDonald, Snt, 19:42.07; 29, Jaelyne Nielsen, BW, 19:42.85; 30, Hallie Hartnett, Hel, 19:43.47.

State A

BOYS

Team scores – Hamilton 48, Corvallis 129, Laurel 137, Browning 161, Whitefish 164, Hardin 180, Lewistown 181, Miles City 251, Glendive 258, Belgrade 268, Havre 278, Frenchtown 337, Dillon 344, Columbia Falls 381, Livingston 399, Billings Central 406, Polson 430, Butte Central 447, Anaconda 464, Libby 639, Sidney n/a.

Individual top 30

1, Anthony Schmalz, Ham, 15:30.18; 2, Jonathan Eastwood, Bel, 15:35.81; 3, Tyler Mogan, Lau, 15:38.38; 4, Sage Schoonen, Dil, 15:46.68; 5, Easton Albert, Ham, 15:47.19; 6, Aidan Theard, Ana, 16:08.69; 7, Brady Stone, Brw, 16:11.99; 8, Delvin Walks, Har, 16:16.30; 9, Emmette Dustybull, Brw, 16:16.46; 10, Cameron Miekle, Ham, 16:28.35;

11, Ronald Venema, Cor, 16:28.58; 12, Austin Stradley, MC, 16:29.85; 13, Karill Apedaile, Ham, 16:34.83; 14, Ryan McKinney, Lew, 16:35.67; 15, Caleb Ware, Har, 16:35.68; 16, EJ Havens, Wfh, 16:35.90; 17, Brandon Kanta, Lau, 16:39.65; 18, Conor McGee, BuC, 16:41.73; 19, Greg Beck, Ham, 16:42.45; 20, Gunnar Nabozney, Ftn, 16:44.36;

21, Dane Watt, Cor, 16:46.43; 22, Kale Kelsey, Lwe, 16:46.92; 23, Keaton Grove, Wfh, 16:49.20; 24, Caleb Knox, Wfh, 16:54.20; 25, Ladan Ricketts, Liv, 16:56.97; 26, Hunter Harrison, BiC, 16:59.12; 27, Garrett Schneider, Lau, 17:03.85; 28, Carson Barnosky, MC, 17:06.85; 29, Carson Jessop, Cor, 17:07.82; 30, Clarence Little Wolf, Har, 17:08.05.

GIRLS

Team scores – Corvallis 29, Whitefish 126, Billings Central 129, Havre 166, Hamilton 169, Polson 183, Glendive 217, Columbia Falls 253, Livingston 273, Miles City 276, Dillon 281, Belgrade 289, Browning 289, Laurel 330, Hardin 340, Lewistown 351, Frenchtown 565, Libby 589, Anaconda, Butte Central, Sidney and Stevensville n/a.

Individual top 30

1, Sadi Henderson, Cor, 17:58.14; 2, Isabella Pape, Cor, 18:11.41; 3, Kaycie Stewart, Cor, 18:29.88; 4, Dalainey Tedesco, Lew, 19;23.39; 5, Claudia Hewston, Pol, 19:24.93; 6, Alexa Horrell, BiC, 19:29.60; 7, Kaitlin Stromberg, Ham, 19:29.85; 8, Courtney Little Dog-Juneau, Brw, 19:30.26; 9, Samantha Mundel, CF, 19:31.80; 10, Morgan McDonnell, BiC, 19:33.51; 11, Amelia Gardner, Cor, 19:38.68; 12, Sydnee McClendon, Cor, 19:39.34; 13, Lexi Gradwohl, Lau, 19:40.67; 14, Haley Ohm, hav, 19;49.79; 15, Emily Regan, MC, 19;42.52; 16, Sarah Latcham, Wfh, 19:51.67; 17, Kelsie Harriman, Liv, 19:51.98; 18, Paitton Herbst, Gle, 20:00.99; 19, Rachel Wissenbach, Cor, 20:02.27; 20, Emma Kundson, BiC, 20;20.74;

21, Sarah Gibb, BiC, 20:23.33; 22, Jaycie Schmalz, Ham, 20:27.91; 23, Isabella Seemann, Pol, 20;36.78; 24, Katie Smith, Wfh, 20;37.74; 25, Morgan Mazurkiewicz, Hav, 20:38.19; 26, Nicole Allerdings, Gle, 2;40.38; 27, Sloan Ellis, Wfh, 20:41.39; 28, Caleigh Buckmaster, Dil, 20;43.00; 29, Sarah Perez, Wfh, 20:46.27; 30, Peyton Twete, Wfh, 20:46.27.

Class B

BOYS

Team scores – Red Lodge 58, Manhattan 73, Thompson Falls 221, Loyola Sacred Heart 239, Cut Bank 244, Bigfork 247, Townsend 271, Glasgow-Opheim 271, St. Labre 297, Colstrip 313, Ronan 316, Lame Deer 330, Columbus 252, Shelby 357, Huntley Project 412, Whitehall 429, Joliet 484, Plains 514, Rocky Boy 523, Lodge Grass 556, Boulder 587, St. Ignatius 590, Eureka 611, Roundup 692, Plentywood-Westby-778.

Individual Top 30

1, Tyus Mendoza, Col, 16:17.06; 2, Logan Morley, Bigf, 16:25.25; 3, Logan Beck, RL, 16:26.40; 4, Russell Kujala, Plains, 16:37.79; 5, Antonio Krogstad, Man, 16:45.45; 6, Darren Hecker, Big Timber, 16:49,89; 7, Virgil McCormick, St.L, 16:56.38; 8, Paul Bielawski, Shel, 16:58.07; 9, Kryn Dykema, RL, 17:03.08; 10, Logan Naegeli, TF, 17:08.29; 11, Hunter Flynn, White, 17:09.20; 12, Will Haman, RL, 17:10.00; 13, Liam Gildehaus, RL, 17:10.48; 14, AJ Eckmann, Bldr, 17:10.92; 15, Colter Smith, Man,17:14.25;

16, Zachary Vandyke, Man, 17:15.33; 17, Riley Lynn, Town, 17:15.59; 18, David Schachman, Man, 17:18.96; 19, Ivan Colmenero, Man, 17:20.73; 20, Colton Woll, Bigf, 17:23.88; 21, Vance Thuesen, RL, 17:24.22; 22, Lane France, Columbus, 17:26.78; 23, Logan Meeks, CB, 17:30.45; 24, Reid Wiersema, Man, 17:31.18; 25, Jared Berkram, CB, 17:31.55; 26, Quincy Wittman, HP, 17:34.80; 27, Matthew Phillips, G-O, 17:43.52; 28, Tristen Gone, Harlem, 17:44.46; 29, Bridger Sanders, G-O, 17:46.28; 30, Cole Daily, RL, 17:46.88.

GIRLS

Team scores – Glasgow-Opheim 87, Loyola Sacred Heart 153, Plains 162, Red Lodge 170, Colstrip 192, Manhattan 223, Bigfork 258, Cut Bank 292, Malta 296, Roundup 307, Ronan 327, Deer Lodge 361, Whitehall 369, Eureka 392, St. Labre 397, Huntley Project 407, Thompson Falls 495, St. Ignatius 515, Columbus 556.

Individual Top 30

1, Makena Morley, Bigf, 16:35.31; 2, Tamia Two Moons, St.L, 19:09.95; 3, Baylee Green, Rndup, 19:23.12; 4, Grace Wyse, Townsend, 19:30.40; 5, Alexandra Bartmess, Eureka, 19:39.03; 6, Maggie Mitzel, LSH, 19:47.85; 7, Sophia Stiles, Malta, 19:49.16; 8, Rachael Zeiger, G-O, 20:06.24; 9, Kimberly Earhart, Plains, 20:07.23; 10, Amanda Wolff, G-O, 20:13.21; 11, Demi Horton, Plains, 20:15.33; 12, Kim Parsell, Shelby, 20:16.27; 13, Bailey Strader, LSH, 20:16.30; 14, Quinn Diehl, LSH, 20:21.64; 15, Morgan Jones, HP, 20:41.69;

16, Emma Fewer, G-O, 20:43.67; 17, Tiffany Poore, RL, 20:50.83; 18, Addie Poore, RL, 20:51.81; 19, Layne Oliver, Three Forks, 20:54.05; 20, Janessa Williams, Boulder, 21:02.84; 21, Amanda McDonald, G-O, 21:03.00; 22, Jordan Wyse, Man, 21:03.69; 23, Felicia Earhart, Plains, 21:13.75; 24, Emily Cheroske, Bigf, 21:13.80; 25, Kiana Howell, Ronan, 21:14.31; 26, Melissa Loveridge, Cols, 21:24.08; 27, Jacelin Augare, CB, 21:25.11; 28, Kile Denny, Cols, 21:33.95; 29, Kenyon Hatten, Joliet, 21:36.42; 30, Taryn Olmstead, Cols, 21:37.51.

Class C

BOYS

Team scores – Plenty Coups 19, Dodson-Whitewater 30, Culbertson-Bainville 33, Hobson 55, Sunburst 67, Ennis 68, Arlee 70, Gardiner 100, Winnett Grass Range-Melstone 114, Darby 119, Great Falls Central 126, Twin Bridges 126, Belt-Centerville 128, Manhattan Christian 133, Brockton 156, Harrison 165, Charlo 178, Frazer 189, Northern Cheyenne 222, Hays-Lodgepole 229, Heart Butte 284, Nashua 294.

Individual Top 30

1, Chance Hyatt, C-B, 16:35.21; 2, Nick Bear, D-W, 17:09.51; 3, Andrew George, TB, 17:15.39; 4, Bryce Hugs, PC, 17:31.39; 5, Michael Azure, C-B, 17:34.69; 6. Isaiah Falls Down, PC, 17:36.94; 7, Wyatt Wilkinson, Gard, 17:37.98; 8, Donovan McDonald, Arl, 17:40.17; 9, Kobe Gutierrez, PC, 17:41.90; 10, Jacob Iverson, W-GR-M, 17:43.80; 11, Colten Leum, MC, 17:45.11; 12, Jaret Warren, D-W, 17:46.57; 13, Dan Lavy, Bridger 17:51.04; 14, Bill Perry, Hob, 17:56.61; 14, Bill Perry, Hob, 17:56.61; 15, Kevin Bingham, Hob, 18:01.01;

16, Henry Ramirez, D-W, 18:02.08; 17, Race Owens, Enn, 18:04.52, 18, Chance Morgan, Sun, 18:10.66; 19, Jon Strong, Harr, 18:14,94; 20, Wyatt Murdoch, Enn, 18:18.99; 21, Mckinley Nicholas, Seeley-Swan, 18:21.72; 22, Dawson Jakober, Dar, 18:22.32; 23, Joshua Grace, Seeley-Swan, 18:32.55; 24, Tyler Tharp, Sun, 18:35.78; 25, Matt Becker, Sun, 18:36.41; 26, Luke Westbrook, Hob, 18:37.91; 27, Beau Hyatt, C-B, 18:38.85; 28, Tristan Sun Rhodes, C-B, 18:46.95; 29, Buhler Zander, Great Falls Central, 18:49.49; 30, Isaac Desjarlais, Arl, 18:51.12.

GIRLS

Team scores – Twin Bridges 36, Belt-Centerville 42, Winnett-Grass Range-Melstone 44, Manhattan Christian 45, Northern Cheyenne 85, Hobson 85, Great Falls Central 98, Arlee 106, Circle 120, Charlo 141, Gardiner 149, Dodson-Whitewater 158, Culbertson-Bainville 165, Brockton 189.

Individual Top 30

1, Jessica George, TB, 19:02.34; 2, Marge Henrekin, Seeley-Swan, 19:17.12; 3, Lily Lang, Darby, 19:29.40; 4, Nikki Aiken, MC, 19:42.05; 5, Breelle Wacker, W-GR-M, 19:47.40; 6, Marie Waldbillig, Philipsburg, 20:01.83; 7, Caitlin Lantis, Terry, 20:12.02; 8, Mckenzie Lencioni, B-C, 20:12.03; 9, Camille Ponyah, NC, 20:36; 10, Paige Phillips, TB, 20:46.15; 11, Calies Ludvigson, Cascade, 20:56.17; 12, Kacie Cummings, Cascade, 21:01.20; 13, Meaghan Winder, B-C, 21:01.93; 14, Emma Adams, M-C, 21:10.48; 15, Cheyenne Wearley, Augusta, 21:23.58;

16, Taya Defrance, Harrison, 21:36.08; 17, Morren Andrea, GFC, 21:44.06; 18, Faith Stevenson, Hob, 22:06.87; 19, Tory Browning, W-GR-M, 22:09.05; 20, Kita Weingart, W-GR-M, 22:11.98; 21, Lauren Winder, B-C, 22:12.90; 22, Anica Wagner, Circle, 22:16.73; 23, Kelly Ponhay, NC, 22:22.75; 24, Katelynn Mendenhall, Terry, 22:22.76; 25, Julia Cox, TB, 22:27.13; 26, Jessica Knoll, Arlee, 22:27.24; 27, Ary Ekola, MC, 22:27.46; 28, Amelia North, Arlee, 22:36.43; 29, Madilyn Kriskovich, Hob, 22:53.34; 30, Jayne Haynie, Circle, 23:00.57.