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Once Again Morley Emerges Victorious at Competitive Mountain West Race

By Beacon Staff

For the second-straight year, Bigfork’s Makena Morley won the largest and most competitive cross country race in the state.

The sophomore and defending Class B state champion won the Mountain West Classic in 17:07 at the University of Montana Golf Course in Missoula last weekend. Morley beat out the top two returning placers from last year’s Class AA championship.

Missoula Hellgate’s Paige Gilchrist, who placed third at state last year, finished second at Mountain West in 17:31. Caroline Hardin from Bozeman, the defending AA champion, took third, 17:52. There were 322 runners from Montana, Idaho and Washington in the girls event.

In the competitive boys race, five runners broke 15 minutes, including third-place Troy Fraley and fifth-place Zach Perrin. Fraley, a Glacier senior, clocked 14:45. Perrin, a Flathead senior, ran 14:58. Andrew Gardner from Mead won his third-straight Mountain West title, breaking last year’s record-winning time. Gardner ran 14:25. Hellgate’s Adam Peterman was second, 14:33.

Whitefish senior Jace Kalbfleisch, 15:52, placed 22nd and teammate Fischer Gangemi, 15:53, earned 24th. There were 361 runners in the boys race.

The Whitefish Invite is Saturday. The Glacier Invitational is Oct. 11. This year’s state cross country meet is Oct. 20 at the Bill Roberts Golf Course in Helena.