Morley wins for Team USA in Scotland

EDINBURGH, Scotland — Bigfork senior Makena Morley won the junior women's 4-kilometer race for Team USA at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country International Challenge on Saturday morning, topping a field of the best cross country athletes in the world.

Morley, who will be attending the University of Montana in the fall, ran out front all race, making quick work of the muddy, wet and windy course at Hollywood Park to finish in 14 minutes, 40 seconds. She finished well ahead of USA teammate and fellow high school senior Anna Rohrer of Mishawaka, Indiana, who finished in second place in 14:47.

The two led Team USA to a team win in the event with 16 points, besting Team Great Britain with 27 and Team Europe with 37.

Other USA finishers in the top 10 were high school senior Ryen Frazier of Raleigh, North Carolina (6th, 15:22) and Providence College freshman Katie Lembo of Penfield, N.Y. (7th, 15:42).

Team USA for the race was made up of six of the top distance runners under 20-years old in the country, three high school seniors and three college freshmen.

Earlier this week, Morley was named the Gatorade Montana cross country athlete of the year for the fourth time in her career, becoming just the 19th individual to complete a career sweep in 30 years. It was the crowning of a cross country career that saw the Bigfork standout obliterate state and course records at both of Montana's state meet venues on the way to four consecutive Class B state championships. In December, Morley finished third at the Foot Locker national championships in San Diego.

Bigfork High School will hold a school-wide assembly at 10:45 a.m. on Monday to welcome Morley back to the Flathead Valley.