Makena Morley, the all-class state record holder in high school cross country and a multiple state champion distance runner, has verbally committed to the University of Montana.
The Bigfork senior confirmed to the Beacon on Thursday that she verbally committed to compete in Missoula.
“I think it will be awesome to run for the state that has supported me so much during my high school career,” she said.
Morley holds the state record in cross country, which she set a year ago at the state meet in Missoula, clocking 16:35 en route to her third consecutive Class B state title. She went on to win the Western Regional Foot Locker Cross Country Championship and placed eighth at the national championship meet in San Diego.
She has been named the Montana Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year the past three seasons, recognizing her as the state’s top distance runner among all classes.
In track, she has won multiple state championships, including a sweep of the distance events last spring. She won the 800 in 2:12.62; the 1,600 in 4:53.83; and the 3,200 in 10:58.85. She also led the long relay to a title in 4:08.18.
One of the all-time great runners in state history, Morley emerged as a talented freshman runner who broke the Class B cross country record and then swept the distance events in track, beginning an historic run of dominance. She placed ninth at the National Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in San Diego that first year, and then picked up her first of three Gatorade awards.
As a sophomore in cross country, Morley captured her second individual state title in a row with a time of 18:13.1.
This fall, entering her final year, Makena welcomed her sister Bryn, a freshman, to the running ranks, and the Beacon caught up with the two sisters as the season got rolling.