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Morley Places 39th at NCAA Pre-Nationals in Kentucky

Morley was the seventh freshman across the line and the second runner from the Big Sky Conference

By Montana Sports Information

Montana freshman Makena Morley finished 39th at the NCAA Pre-Nationals cross country race on Saturday in Louisville, Ky.

Morley, a Bigfork native who missed the Montana Invitational two weeks ago because of a foot injury, came through in 20:40.3.

Colorado junior Erin Clark won the six-kilometer race in a time of 20:00.5. She beat Air Force senior Hannah Everson (20:01.2) and Tennessee senior Chelsea Blaase (20:02.6) to the line.

Morley was in the top 20 through four kilometers in the high-level seeded race.

“She was right in it through 4k. The last 2k is the most technical part of the course. There are some hills, and you get away from the crowds, so you’re kind of on your own. That’s when she lost focus a little bit and got swallowed up,” said UM cross country coach Collin Fehr.

“This was a big-time learning experience for Makena. The competition and depth of field was greater than anything she has experienced before. She’s run in some big races with good competition, but never with the sheer number of runners who are at her level.”

Morley was the seventh freshman across the line and the second runner from the Big Sky Conference. Eastern Washington’s Sarah Reiter, last year’s Big Sky champion, finished 16th in a time of 20:25.9.

The rest of Montana’s team competed Saturday at the Inland Empire Challenge in Lewiston, Idaho. The Grizzlies will compete at the Big Sky Conference championships at Cedar City, Utah, on Oct. 31 and the NCAA Mountain Regional on Nov. 13 in Albuquerque, N.M.