Makena Morley brings home four medals from state track

It wasn’t the finish she hoped for, but Makena Morley will take it.

Morley,  a sophomore who won three individual events at last year’s Class B state track meet, placed second in all three events to Townsend senior Chiara Warner at Bozeman last weekend.

“I just didn’t have great races,” Morley said. “I put too much stress and pressure on myself, so I need to try to handle it better.”

Morley finished second in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters this year. She was the anchor on the girls 1,600-meter relay team that finished fourth.

Morley improved on her times in the 800 and 1,600 over last year by one and four seconds, respectively. Her time in the 3,200 was 18 seconds longer, however.

Last year, Warner didn’t place in the 800, and she finished fourth in the 1,600 and second in the 3,200, so her times were much faster. Warner’s time of 4:48.24 in the 1,600 this year  set a new all-class record for Montana girls track.

Morley anchored the 1,600-meter relay, following Marissa Hiza, Megan Pancoast and Maddie McAnally. The Valkyries were in seventh place when she got the baton, but Morley was able to pass three runners on the final leg to bring her team a fourth-place finish.

McAnally, a freshman, placed sixth in the 300-meter hurdles to account for the remainder of the Vals’ points.

Makena’s brother Logan Morley, also a freshman, placed fourth in the 3,200 meters.

“It was a fun race,” Logan said. He said he came out too fast and took 13 seconds off his personal best time.

Logan just barely missed earning points in the 1,600 meters, finishing seventh in a neck-and-neck finish.

Sophomore Chance Kittle placed fifth in the 800, while the boys 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams finished fifth and third, respectively.

Senior Austin Gordon was sixth in the 100 meters, while sophomore Josh Sandry took fourth in the high jump.

As a team, the Vals placed eighth with 29 points, while the Vikes came in ninth with 19 points.