A few days after being named the best cross country runner in Montana, Makena Morley earned the distinction of being one of the best in the world.
The Bigfork senior captured first place in the junior women’s 4K race at the Great Edinburgh XCountry International Challenge in Scotland on Jan. 10. She crossed the finish line in 14:40, edging fellow American Anna Rohrer, the two-time Foot Locker Cross Country national champion, who finished in 14:47.
The race featured the top runners under 20 from Europe and the U.S. Morley was one of three high school runners on Team USA and led the Americans to a team victory with 16 points. Team Great Britain placed second and Team Europe was third.
Click here for video and results from the race.
Bigfork High School held a school-wide pep assembly on Monday celebrating Morley’s accomplishments, including winning her fourth consecutive Gatorade Montana Cross Country Runner of the Year award.