Morleys, Hill, Mundel state x-country champs
HELENA — Bigfork senior Makena Morley topped her own all-class state record on the way to winning her fourth Class B state cross country championship on Saturday, becoming just the fourth girl in state history to complete the career sweep.
Morley set the course record for Bill Roberts Golf Course and broke the record time she set last year at the University of Montana Golf Course by two seconds, finishing in 16 minutes, 33.20 seconds, topping the mark of 16:35.31 set last year in Missoula. She now holds the three fastest times in Class B history and the top two in all classes. She is the first girl to win four state titles since Flathead’s Zoe Nelson completed the sweep in 2004, breaking her Helena record in the process.
“It was exciting,” Bigfork coach Sue Loeffler said. “It’s sad, too, because you know that was her last one. But, it was exciting for her to go out in a blaze of glory.”
Makena finished far ahead of her sister, Valkyries freshman Bryn Morley, who crossed the finish line in second place in 16:59.28, two minutes ahead of the third place runner. Bryn’s run was the fastest ever by a freshman at state.
With the leading efforts, Bigfork’s girls finished in third place as a team, three points behind Red Lodge and far behind team champion Manhattan. Xiaoxiao Strong finished 22nd for the Vals.
Eureka’s Alexandra Bartmess finished fifth in 19:11.03 to also finish all-state. Tyann Totten was 18th for the Lions.
“[Makena and Bryn] were going to both push each other and just race and see what happened,” Loeffler said.
The record-setting finish from Makena was part of an extremely successful meet for northwestern Montana, which saw athletes capture four state championships in six races and finish second twice more.
Logan Morley, a junior, completed the family sweep, winning the Class B state boys title in 15:29, finishing 30 seconds faster than the rest of the field for his first individual championship. Eureka’s Jamie Good finished 28th in 17:46.43 to lead the Lions to a sixth place finish. Bigfork was 14th in the team race.
Glacier freshman Annie Hill, the only girl to beat Makena Morley in a race, cruised to the Class AA state championship in 17:11.88, becoming the first Kalispell girl since Nelson in 2004 and the first freshman to win Class AA since Bozeman’s Caroline Hardin in 2010. It was the fastest ever finish by a freshman in AA, topping Nelson’s mark of 17:29.0 in 2001.
“We’re very proud of her,” Glacier coach Mike McLean said. “She always wants to run faster. I thought it was a pretty controlled race.”
Flathead’s Kaitlin Wride finished seventh in 18:20.81 to place all-state, leading the Bravettes to a third-place finish. Lauren Clark finished 16th in 18:58.69, Elizabeth Thompson was 19th in 19:05.75 and Mackenzie Bouma was 25th in 19:25.94 for Flathead. Glacier’s Bailey Smith finished 18th in 19:02.89.
The Glacier boys brought home hardware again, finishing third, two points behind Billings Senior. Kade McCutcheon was again the top finisher for the Wolfpack, placing sixth in 15:48. 31, with Logan Harmon in 13th at 15:53.02 and Brock Sandry in 14th at 15:56.82 to place all-state. Tevyn Stetson finished in 23rd for the Wolfpack.
Flathead’s Sylas Schutt was all-state finishing eighth in 15:49.39. Jake Perrin finished 19th and Jacob Calles 25th for the Braves.
Columbia Falls’ Samantha Mundel outpaced the rest of the Class A field to win the girls state championship, crossing the finish line in 18:19.70.
“She’s worked really hard for this,” Columbia Falls coach Richard Menicke said. “She had an incredible season with consistency at a very high level.
“She ran the perfect race. She made her move, her separation, at the right time showing a lot of what she’s done throughout her career in one perfect race.”
Whitefish’s Sarah Latcham finished second in 18:45.64 to lead the Bulldogs to another second place finish. Barrett Gray finished ninth for Whitefish in 19:58.16 to finish all-state, Peyton Twete was 18th and Sarah Perez was 25th.
“Most of them had the best races of the season,” Whitefish coach Sarah Brist said. “Sarah Latcham getting second, it was her fastest time this year.”
Polson finished fourth, led by Ryan Harrop in seventh in 19:53.72. Izabella Seemann was 15th and Malia Seeley was 24th.
Whitefish’s Keaton Grove was the top local finisher in Class A boys, finishing 26th in 17:05.38.
Bozeman swept the Class AA team titles, the girls winning their eighth-straight championship to match Glasgow for the most consecutive titles in state history.
In Class A, Hamilton won the boys team title and Corvallis the girls. Red Lodge won the boys Class B title.
Culbertson won the Class C boys team title and Twin Bridges’ Tristen Guillot won the individual medal. West Yellowstone’s Bailee Parker won the Class C girls event, leading the Wolverines to a state team title.
Class AA
BOYS
Team scores — 1, Bozeman 42; 2, Billings Senior 93; 3, Glacier 95; 4, Missoula Hellgate 118; 5, Helena 123; 6, Flathead 150; 7, Billings West 201; 8, Helena Capital 202; 9, Missoula Sentinel 226; 10, Great Falls CMR 241; 11, Billings Skyview 266; 12, Great Falls 309; 13, Butte 371; 14, Missoula Big Sky 434.
Individual results — 1, Aidan Reed, Helena, 15:22.81; 2, Dontae Baker, Capital, 15:36.47; 3, Riley Collins, Bozeman 15:37.22; 4, Chase Equall, Bozeman, 15:38.58; 5, Marshall Beatty, Sentinel, 15:39.14; 6, Kade McCutcheon, Glacier, 15:48.31; 7, Caleb Allen, Bozeman, 15:48.74; 8, Sylas Schutt, Flathead, 15:49.39; 9, Dylan Johnson, Senior, 15:49.66; 10, Layne Ryerson, Helena, 15:50.31; 11, Peder Rickbeil, Senior, 15:51.07; 12, Orin Clark, Bozeman, 15:51.55; 13, Logan Harmon, Glacier, 15:53.02; 14, Brock Sandry, Glacier, 15:56.82; 15, Carter Gall, Senior, 15:57.58;
16, Duncan Hamilton, Bozeman, 16:03.52; 17, Preston Novak, Hellgate, 16:07.41; 18, Jack Puckett, Hellgate, 16:10.30; 19, Jake Perrin, Flathead, 16:11.11; 20, Danny Provo, Hellgate, 16:15.48; 21, Isaac Petsch, West, 16:16.58; 22, Cooper West, CMR, 16:17.20; 23, Tevyn Stetson, Glacier, 16:18.12; 24, Anthony Overcast, Senior, 16:19.50; 25, Jacob Calles, Flathead, 16:22.33; 26, Walker Van Houten, Bozeman, 16:23.75; 27, Nick Painter, Skyview, 16:25.85; 28, Collin Buck, CMR, 16:28.24; 29, Josh Barrows, Helena, 16:28.68; 30, Teagan Olson, GFH, 16:28.76.
GIRLS
Team scores — 1, Bozeman 60; 2, Missoula Hellgate 62; 3, Flathead 101; 4, Missoula Sentinel 119; 5, Billings Senior 134; 6, Glacier 174; 7, Billings West 195; 8, Helena 210; 9, Billings Skyview 225; 10, Helena Capital 272; 11, Great Falls CMR 283; 12, Great Falls 330; 13, Missoula Big Sky 356; 14, Butte 362.
Individual results — 1, Annie Hill, Glacier, 17:11.88; 2, Sabrina Sterbis, Big Sky, 17:41.37; 3, Samantha Sayer, Hellgate, 17:46.65; 4, Christina Aragon, Senior, 17:50.62; 5, Piper Meuwissen, Bozeman, 17:51.21; 6, Amanda Nelson, Skyview, 18:06.01; 7, Kaitlin Wride, Flathead, 18:20.81; 8, Miranda Foster, Hellgate, 18:27.96; 9, Kenenni Wiegand, Bozeman, 18:28.10; 10, Molly MacDonald, Sentinel, 18:33.32; 11, Keegan Day, Skyview, 18:34.84; 12, Bridget Creel, Bozeman, 18:39.93; 13, Allison Monahan, Hellgate, 18:42.81; 14, Sarah Foster, Bozeman, 18:46.27; 15, Ellen Brooks, Sentinel, 18:57.04;
16, Lauren Clark, Flathead, 18:58.69; 17, Ellee Becker, Hellgate, 19:00.00; 18, Bailey Smith, Glacier, 19:02.89; 19, Elizabeth Thompson, Flathead, 19:05.75; 20, Phoebe Jacques, Bozeman, 19:10.94; 21, Halle Smith, Hellgate, 19:19.68; 22, Jessica Raty, Senior, 19:20.79; 23, Jaelyne Nielson, West, 19:22.29; 24, Abby McBroom, Capital, 19:23.05; 25, Mackenzie Bouma, Flathead, 19:25.94; 26, Maddie Vilhauer, Bozeman, 19:25.97; 27, Kelsey Mueller, Sentinel, 19:27.14; 28, Mackenzie George, CMR, 19:29.66; 29, Courtney Hutton, Senior, 19:30.66; 30, Madison Liechty, Sentinel, 19:35.71.
Class A
BOYS
Team scores — 1, Hamilton, 50; 2, Corvallis, 69; 3, Belgrade, 132; 4, Hardin, 151; 5, Fergus, 171; 6, Laurel, 194; 7, Dawson County, 211; 8, Frenchtown, 234; 9, Beaverhead County, 252; 10, Browning, 269; 11, Whitefish, 278; 12, Havre, 338; 13, Park, 345; 14, Custer County, 366; 15, Billings Central, 424.
Individual results — 1, Jonathan Eastwood, Belgrade, 15:22.24; 2. Tyler Morgan, Laurel, 15:29.21; 3, Cameron Miekle, Hamilton, 16:05.82; 4, Ronald Venema, Corvallis, 16:09; 5, Karill Apedaile, Hamilton, 16:14.59; 6, Kole Tison, Hamilton, 16:15.39; 7, Kyle McLaughlin, Belgrade, 16:16.62; 8, Caleb Ware, Hardin, 16:17.72; 9, Jalen Two Leginns, Hardin, 16:21.59; 10, Austin Stradley, Custer County, 16:27.44; 11, Carson Jessop, Corvallis, 16:36.25; 12, Ashton Jones, Dawson County, 16:39.00; 13, Josh Jessop, Corvallis, 16:39.05; 14, Sage Schoonen, Beaverhead Cty, 16:44.92; 15, Tanner Lehr, Hamilton, 16:45.50;
16, Holman Real Bird, Hardin, 16:45; 17, Andrew Jessop, Corvallis, 16:54.10; 18, Tate Thompson, BC, 16:55.45; 19, Noah Majerus, Fergus, 16:55.83; 20, Trey Smollack, Anaconda, 16:56.02; 21, Jacob Rogers, Hamilton, 16:56.10; 22, Garrett Ruud, Belgrade, 16:59.33; 23, Isaiah Girard, Beaverhead Cty, 17:02.17; 24, Brennan Williams, Corvallis, 17:02.23; 25, Jaden Rowe, Frenchtown, 17:02.87; 26, Keaton Grove, Whitefish, 17:05.38; 27, Conor McGee, Butte Central, 17:06.16; 28, Joel Haas, Corvallis, 17:08.05; 29, Devin Nelson, Park, 17:11.49; 30, Matt Wilson, Hamilton, 17:15.68
GIRLS
Team scores — 1, Corvallis, 65; 2, Whitefish, 94; 3, Hamilton 130, 4, Polson, 149; 5, Hardin, 173; 6, Belgrade, 182; 7, Fergus, 183; 8, Laurel, 208; 9, Columbia Falls, 233; 10, Custer County, 243; 11, Dawson County, 297; 12, Billings Central, 311; 13, Havre, 337; 14, Beaverhead County, 361.
Individual results — 1, Samantha Mundel, CFalls, 18:19.70; 2, Sarah Latcham, Whitefish, 18:45.64; 3, Amelia Gardner, Corvallis, 18:59.17; 4, Jaycie Schmalz, Hamilton, 19:38.14; 5, Albany Jessop, Corvallis, 19:40.54; 6, Kaitlyn Poss, Fergus, 19:50.21; 7, Ryan Harrop, Polson, 19:53.72; 8, Lexi Gradwohl, Laurel, 19:57.36; 9, Barrett Gray, Whitefish, 19:58.16; 10, Kaitlin Stromberg, Hamilton, 19:59.74; 11, Mei Li Stevens, Hamilton, 20:03.43; 12, Emily Regan, Custer County, 20:08.40; 13, Rachel David, Havre, 20:14.08; 14, Grace Kurfman, Corvallis, 20:15.47; 15, Lynn Reynoso, Corvallis, 20:20.16;
16, Lizzie Vosler, Belgrade, 20:23.34; 17, Cierra La Ve, BC, 20:32.80; 18, Peyton Twete, Whitefish, 20:33.45; 19, Laura Leininger, Belgrade, 20:34.15; 20, Izabella Seemann, Polson, 20:36.54; 21, Alexa Horrell, BC, 20:40.89; 22, Larissa Saarel, Park, 20:41.34; 23, Jael Birdinground, Hardin, 20:44.56; 24, Malia Seeley, Polson, 20:45.32; 25, Sarah Perez, Whitefish, 20:45.99; 26, Morgan Mazurkiewicz, Havre, 20:46.29; 27, Madison Rodgers, Fergus, 20:47.12; 28, Mary Royce, Corvallis, 20:49.87; 29, Jetara Pretty Weasel, Hardin, 20:54.94; 30, Abbey Dunn, Corvallis, 20:58.57
Class B
BOYS
Team scores — 1, Red Lodge, 74; 2, Manhattan, 86; 3, Townsend, 133; 4, Thompson Falls, 192; 5, Colstrip, 237; 6, Lincoln County, 248; 7, Shelby, 250; 8, Harlem, 287; 9, Glasgow, 289; 10, Ronan, 301; 11, St. Labre, 301; 12, Loyola Sacred Heart, 307; 13, Joliet, 369; 14, Bigfork, 408; 15, Lodge Grass, 428.
Individuals results — 1, Logan Morley, Bigfork, 15:29.18; 2, Tyus Mendoza, Colstrip, 15:59.92; 3, Logan Beck, Red Lodge, 16:32.01; 4, Paul Bielawski, Shelby, 16:35.21; 5, A.J. Eckmann, Jefferson, 16:41.41; 6, Kryn Dykema, Red Lodge, 16:41.44; 7, Russell Kujala, Plains, 16:49.69; 8, David Sachman, Manhattan, 16:60.65; 9, Liam Gildehaus, Red Lodge, 16:54.69; 10, Tanner Laws, Thompson Falls, 17:00.06; 11, Hunter Flynn, Whitehall, 17:00.66; 12, Vance Thuesen, Red Lodge, 17:00.69; 13, Tommy Frost, Townsend, 17:12.39; 14, Tristen Gone, Harlem, 17:13.00; 15, Antonio Krogstad, Manhattan, 17:15.21;
16, Luke Henke, Shelby, 17:16.31; 17, Triston Real Bird, Lodge Grass, 17:26.05; 18, Matthew Wurnig, Huntley Project, 17:26.11; 19, Leonard McComas, Manhattan, 17:27.05; 20, Riley Lynn, Townsend, 17:28.26; 21, Colter Smith, Manhattan, 17:29.62; 22, Lance Strike, Harlem, 17:33.49; 23, Colter Barney, Manhattan, 17:34.05; 24, Jackson Duffey, Ronan, 17:40.02; 25, Xavier Broderick, Thompson Falls, 17:40.72; 26, Tanner Saltzman, Townsend, 17:43.41; 27, Keahna Little, Harlem, 17:44.43; 28, Jamie Good, Lincoln County, 17:46.43; 29, Sam Reilly, Loyola Sacred Heart, 17:47.10; 30, Walker Allen, Glasgow, 17:49.26.
GIRLS
Teams scores — 1, Manhattan, 91; 2, Red Lodge, 131; 3, Bigfork, 134; 4, Glasgow, 182; 5, Roundup, 214; 6, Colstrip, 271; 7, Lincoln County, 272; 8, Plains, 296; 9, Malta, 299; 10, St. Labre, 301; 11, Loyola Sacred Heart, 318; 12, Ronan, 364; 13, Huntley Project, 411; 14, Rocky Boy, 450; 15, Cut Bank, 485.
Individual results — 1, Makena Morley, Bigfork, 16:33.20 (All-Class record); 2, Bryn Morley, Bigfork, 16:59.28; 3, Tamia Two Moons, Lame Deer, 18:59.04; 4, Kimberly Earhart, Plains, 19:10.68; 5, Alexandra Bartmess, Lincoln County, 19:11.03; 6, Grace Wyse, Townsend, 19:27.81; 7, Baylee Green, Roundup, 19:50.61; 8, Josie Braaten, Glasgow, 19:52.09; 9, Addie Poore, Red Lodge, 19:55.41; 10, Sierra Summers, Wolf Point, 20:04.44; 11, Anna Losasso, Manhattan, 20:05.00; 12, Hannah Madsen, Manhattan, 20:13.31; 13, Amanda Wolff, Glasgow, 20:24.37; 14, Sophia Stiles, Malta, 20:30.61; 15, Kim Parsell, Shelby, 20:30.75;
16, Grace McDonnell, Townsend, 20:32.17; 17, Jordan Wyse, Manhattan, 20:44.82; 18, Tyann Totten, Lincoln County, 20:49.52; 19, Melissa Loveridge, Colstrip, 20:55.32; 20, Makayla Schneider, Loyola Sacred Heart, 21:00.89; 21, Emma Clinton, Red Lodge, 21:03.14; 22, Xiaoxiao Strong, Bigfork, 21:12.20; 23, Trinity Ridesthebear, St. Labre, 21:15.20; 24, Kylie Richardson, Manhattan, 21:17.06; 25, Kateri Rush, Wolf Point, 21:21.39; 26, Kena McMakin, St. Labre, 21:31.09; 27, Elle Olsztyn, Manhattan, 21:36.09; 28, Kensey Keil, Plentywood, 21:37.19; 29, Rachel Nelson, Roundup, 21:39.13; 30, Emily Reimche, Huntley Project, 21:43.62.
Class C
BOYS
Team scores — 1, Culbertson, 36; 2, Ennis, 41; 3, Plenty Coups, 59; 4, Darby, 64; 5, Manhattan Christian, 74; 6, Twin Bridges, 83; 7, Winnett, 95; 8, Belt, 97; 9, Sunburst, 113; 10, Harrison, 124; 11, Charlo, 134; 12, Brockton, 146; 13, Roberts, 147; 14, Willow Creek, 159; 15, Hays-Lodgepole, 166.
Individual results — 1, Tristen Guillot, Twin Bridges, 16:45.55; 2, Lane Sitz, Ennis, 17:01.09; 3, Evan Duggan, Darby, 17:04.02; 4, Jacob Iverson, Winnett, 17:08.21; 5, Michael Azure, Culbertson, 17:17.85; 6, Race Owens, Ennis, 17:19.35; 7, Dan Lavy, Bridger, 17:23.29; 8, Dalton Delaney, Charlo, 17:35.83; 9, Tim Wright, Richey, 17:40.86; 10, Kobe Guitierrez, Plenty Coups, 17:46.25; 11, Wyatt Wilkinson, Gardiner, 17:48.50; 12, Jarrett Warren, Dodson-Whitewater, 17:49.17; 13, Chance Morgan, Sunburst, 17:49.73; 14, Tristan Sun Rhoades, Culbertson, 17:52.32; 15, Kevin Bingham, Hobson, 17:55.55;
16, Garrett McCormack, Darby, 18:05.53; 17, Beau Hyatt, Culbertson, 18:08.89; 18, Skylar Plainfeather, Plenty Coups, 18:20.16; 19, Daniel Buchignani, Manhattan Christian, 18:27.65; 20, Luke Westbrook, Hobson, 18:30.10; 21, Derrick DeFrance, Harrison, 18:33.13; 22, Tough Snow, Hayes-Lodgepole, 18:37.27; 23, Keagan Stroop, Belt, 18:37.58; 24, Rick Hibbs, Roberts, 18:46.00; 25, Joshua Grace, Seeley Swan, 18:46.94; 26, Daly Nesbit, Willow Creek, 18:50.27; 27, Jasper Koski, Manhattan Christian, 18:50.99; 28, Ryan Busch, Manhattan Christian, 18:54.49; 29, Ben Corrigan, Twin Bridges, 19:02.99; 30, Dylan Leep, Manhattan Christian, 19:08.05.
GIRLS
Team scores — 1, West Yellowstone, 38; 2, Winnett, 39; 3, Twin Bridges, 39; 4, Cascade, 53; 5, Manhattan Christian, 54; 6, Belt, 67; 7, Darby, 102; 8, Circle, 108; 9, Granite, 115; 10, Seeley Swan, 122; 11, Richey, 127; 12, Arlee, 131; 13, Great Falls Central, 143; 14, Sunburst, 145; 15, Ryegate, 206.
Individual results — 1, Bailee Parker, West Yellowstone, 18:16.68; 2, Breelle Wacker, Winnett, 18:56.79; 3, Lily Lang, Darby, 19:19.88; 4, Christina Eicke, Hobson, 19:26.72; 5, Nikki Aiken, Manhattan Christian, 19:39.88; 6, Jessica George, Twin Bridges, 20:23.22; 7, Calise Ludvigson, Cascade, 20:34.68; 8, Kita Weingart, Winnett, 20:41.04; 9, Mackenzie Lencioni, Belt, 20:42.18; 10, Emma Adams, Manhattan Christian, 20:44.29; 11, Savannah Stewart, Twin Bridges, 20:54.84; 12, Marie Wallbillig, Granite, 20:55.39; 13, Jewlz Collins, West, Yellowstone, 21:10.15; 14, Kacey Cummings, Cascade, 21:11.48; 15, Ellie Smith, Richey, 21:12.22;
16, Hannah Calo, Ennis, 21:35.93; 17, Maya Deikmann, Darby, 21:50.95; 18, Alleen Russell, Brockton, 22:03.37; 19, Becca Witesell, Arlee, 22:03.94; 20, Andrea Morren, Great Falls Central, 22:04.80; 21, Lauren Winder, Belt, 22:14.25; 22, Julia Cox, Twin Bridges, 22:17.15; 23, Taya DeFrance, Harrison, 22:18.90; 24, Emily Everest, West Yellowstone, 22:20.18; 25, Abby Belus, Circle, 22:21.73; 26, Annie Jehle, West Yellowstone, 22:32.58; 27, Cera Strumpfer, Seeley Swan, 22:37.14; 28, Maggie Althaus, Granite, 22:43.11; 29, Shelby Atchison, Winnett, 22:46.00; 30, Didi Kaya, Winnett, 22:51.51.