Makena Morley tops Archie Roe meet in Kalispell

Makena Morley ran away from the competition, literally.

Bigfork’s sophomore sensation won the 3,200 meters at Kalispell’s Archie Roe Invitational on Saturday.

Morley’s time of 10:40.7 was more than 32 seconds faster than that of second-place Paige Gilchrist of Missoula Hellgate.

Another sophomore also performed well for the Valkyries. Sarah Morton placed at a track meet for the first time ever in recording a high jump of 4 feet, 9 inches. Morton’s effort was good enough for fifth.

Coach Sue Loeffler called Morton’s finish a “huge accomplishment.”

Also earning points for Bigfork was junior Tessa Robertson, who placed fourth in the shot put and fifth in the discus with distances of 34 feet, one-half inch and 103 feet, 7 inches, respectively.

As a team, the Vals totaled 18 points, which left them in seventh out of 12 teams, including Flathead, Glacier and Hellgate high schools, which finished first, second and third.

The Vikings’ only points were in the 4x400-meter relay. The team of Jessie Mueller, Chris Landon, Cameron Nissen and Austin Gordon finished fourth.

Loeffler noted that although freshman Logan Morley didn’t place, he ran well, finishing the 3,200 meters in a personal best time of 10:07.

The Vikings’ four points left them in 11th place, two points behind Plains and one ahead of Eureka. Glacier, Flathead and Whitefish finished in the top three positions.

Bigfork heads to the district meet in Eureka on Saturday. Other teams that will be competing include Thompson Falls, Plains and Troy.

The top five competitors in each event will advance to the divisional in Missoula May 17-18.