Bigfork's Makena Morley repeats as West Regional champ
to become four-time Foot Locker National finalist; Pocatello's
Elijah Armstrong leads six veterans returning to San Diego

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Makena Morley had conquered the storied hills at Mt. San Antonio College several times in her career, but the biggest obstacle this season for the Bigfork (Montana) senior had been Glacier freshman Annie Hill.

In her final appearance Saturday at the Foot Locker West Regional Championships in Walnut, Morley attacked the 5-kilometer course and the competition from the outset to not only defend her title, but make history in the process.

Morley (photo above by Chuck Utash) clocked 17 minutes, 33.5 seconds -- the No. 4 all-time mark in regional competition at Mt. SAC -- to become the first repeat girls winner since former Mission Prep standout Jordan Hasay captured four straight championships from 2005-08. Morley also joined Hasay, an Oregon All-American, as a four-time Foot Locker national finalist in San Diego.

Although Hill couldn't secure a fourth victory this season over Makena Morley, her fourth-place finish in 18:10.6, along with fellow freshman Bryn Morley, Makena's sister, taking sixth (18:16.8) marked the first time Montana boasted three Foot Locker girls national finalists.

Hill, Makena Morley and Bryn Morley placed fourth, fifth and sixth at the NXN Northwest Regional on Nov. 15 at Eagle Island State Park in Idaho. The top three finishers in that race -- Oregon's Ella Donaghu, Alaska's Allie Ostrander and Washington's Lindsey Bradley -- all earned All-America honors Saturday at Nike Cross Nationals, including Ostrander winning the title at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland.

The Montana trio will be joined Dec. 13 at Balboa Park by seven qualifiers from California -- falling just short of the regional record of eight from the Golden state in 2000 and 2009 -- including Division IV state champion Caroline Pietrzyk of Malibu, who took second in 18:01.6 to lead a group of nine first-time national finalists behind Makena Morley.

Pietrzyk was 11th at last year's regional championship and missed qualifying by 0.7, but persevered all season to get another opportunity, moving up from sixth at the mile to fourth at the two-mile mark to second by the time she stepped foot on the track for the final stretch inside Hilmer Lodge Stadium.

Menlo's Lizzie Lacy (18:03.4) was third, Campolindo's Toni Finnane (18:14.8) took fifth and Citrus Valley sophomore Claire Graves -- 21st last season -- clocked 18:32 for seventh. Lacy finished third in the Division IV state final behind Pietrzyk, Finnane was the Division III state runner-up and Graves took fourth in the Division II state championship.

Bella Vista's Kendall Derry (18:39.2), Lynbrook's Grace Ling (18:46) and South Torrance's Kimberly Coscia (18:49.3) secured the final three girls national qualifying spots. Derry was sixth in the Division I state final, Ling placed 10th in the Division II state championship and Coscia took third in the Division III state final.

Elijah Armstrong of Pocatello (Idaho) took over the lead from Brea-Olinda's Austin Tamagno in the final mile of the boys race and prevailed in 15:24.2, the second-fastest regional mark at Mt. SAC behind the 15:21 of Seth Watkins of Kalispell (Montana) in 2000.

Armstrong (photo right by Chuck Utash), who took third last season, was one of six returning national finalists, along with three-time qualifiers John Dressel of Mt. Spokane (Washington) and Conner Mantz of Sky View (Utah).

Dressel placed fourth in 15:37.8 and Mantz took fifth in 15;39.6.

Trevor Reinhart of Marin Academy, the Division V state champion, took second in 15:28.4 to secure back-to-back national appearances and lead three California qualifiers, along with Division III state winner Tamagno -- sixth in 15:43.5 -- and Bishop O'Dowd senior Colin Burke, who surged for the 10th and final berth in 15:59.9. Burke was third in the Division III state final.

Matthew Maton of Summit (Oregon), last year's regional winner, took third in 15:36.4 and Levi Thomet of Kodiak (Alaska) placed seventh in 15:52.6 to also make a return trip to nationals.

Josh Collins of Wasatch (Utah), who won the NXN Southwest Regional title, decided to compete at Foot Locker regionals instead of racing in Oregon and placed eighth in 15:54.7 to advance to San Diego.

Garek Bielaczyc of East High in Salt Lake City -- second in last year's regional frosh/soph race -- took ninth (15:56.5) in the seeded race to help Utah match California with three national finalists.