Makena Morley defends West regional XC crown
WALNUT, Calif. — Makena Morley, a senior at Bigfork High School, defended her Foot Locker West Regional cross country title on Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College while Glacier freshman Annie Hill finished fourth and Bigfork freshman Bryn Morley was sixth in an elite field of 143 runners.
It was a most impressive showing for the three Flathead Valley standouts as California runners finished second, third and fifth and had seven in the top 10. The girls ran together in the top three for most of the race before separating in the last half mile.
Makena Morley, who signed to run at the University of Montana last month, cruised to a winning time of 17 minutes, 33.5 seconds in the 5k race. She was the lone runner to break 18 minutes.
Makena finished 28 seconds ahead of Caroline Pietrzyk of Malibu, Calif.
The run was similar to last year, when Makena won the West Regional with a time of 18:05.7. Her margin of victory in that race was 20 seconds.
She finished third at the regional as a sophomore and freshman with times of 18:17 and 18:08, respectively.
Hill was clocked in 18:10.6 and Bryn Morley checked in with a time of 18:16.8.
All three runners will compete in the 36th annual Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships on Saturday on Morley Field at Balboa Park in San Diego.
The Midwest, Northeast and South regionals were all held Nov. 29.
The top 10 finishers from regionals qualify for nationals.
The West Regional consists of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Makena Morley finished eighth last year at nationals with a time of 17:43. She was 24th as a sophomore and ninth as a freshman.
In the boys seeded race, Brock Sandry of Kalispell was 76th, 16:51.1, Logan Morley of Bigfork was 108th, 17:04.8, Jake Perrin of Lakeside was 136th, 17:21.9, and Logan Harmon of Kalispell was 134th, 17:21.5.
Elijah Armstrong of Pocatello, Idaho, had the top time, 15:24.2.
Ten runners, in a field of 267, finished under 16 minutes.
Foot Locker West Regional
Saturday
At Walnut, Calif.
Girls Seeded Race
Time
1. Makena Morley, Bigfork 17:33.5
2. Caroline Pietrzyk, Malibu, Calif. 18:01.6
3. Elizabeth Lacy, San Mateo, Calif. 18:03.4
4. Annie Hill, Kalispell 18:10.6
5. Toni Finnane, Moraga, Calif. 18:14.8
6. Bryn Morley, Bigfork 18:16.8
7. Claire Graves, Highland, Calif. 18:32.0
8. Kendall Derry, Fair Oaks, Calif. 18:39.2
9. Grace Ling, San Jose, Calif. 18:46.0
10. Kimberly Coscia, Torrance, Calif. 18:49.3