Valkyries win first district crosscountry championship

Bryn Morley and Makena Morley crossed the finish line together on Friday at the Mission Mountain Golf course in Ronan, leading the Bigfork girls to their first crosscountry team title under the leadership of the two sisters.

This is the first time the Bigfork girls have had enough runners to post a team score in four years, head coach Sue Loeffler said. There have to be five runners for a team score.

Officials flipped a coin giving Bryn the first place title and Makena Morley second. Both finished the race in 17:33. Bigfork sophomore Xiaoxiao Strong also finished in the top 10, placing ninth with a time of 21:27. Katherine Mischke finished 17th and Gaby Eaton rounded out the scoring runners in 19th place. Bigfork’s sixth runner Veronica Farrier finished with a time of 26:42.

Makena Morley had not originally planned to compete in the conference meet, which isn’t required for state qualification, but decided to compete to help the girls secure their first team win.

Logan Morley won the boys meet by a minute, with a time of 15:37. The boys didn’t have enough runners compete to have a team score, with only four boys running. 

The crosscountry season will wrap up Saturday with the state meet at Bill Roberts Golf Course in Helena, where Makena will seek her fourth-straight state class B championship.

Loeffler is optimistic the girls team will finish in the top three at the state meet.

The future of Bigfork girls crosscountry looks bright, with Bryn Morley and a large contingent of middle school girls who have performed well this season. “I think the future of the girls team looks good,” said coach Jessica Johnson.

Bigfork Cross Country

Western B Conference

Logan Morley 15:37 1st

Slater Ream 18:21 16th

Cody Johnson 18:37 20th

Jack Sillivan 21:43

Makena Morley 17:33 tied 1st

Bryn Morley 17:33 tied 1st

Xiaoxiao Strong 21:27 9th

Katherine Mischke 17th

Gaby Eaton 23:22 19th

Veronica Farrier 26:42