Makena Morley

Photo by: Gary Breedlove

Photo by: Ken Moreland

Height:
5-3
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Bigfork, Mont.
High School:
Bigfork
Prev School:
Montana

2018: Morley finished her collegiate cross country career on an outstanding note, helping the Buffs to a NCAA Championship while recording her first All-America honor. She raced four times and never finished outside of the top eight as the Buffs No. 2 all season. Her campaign started at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational where she finished sixth as she helped CU win the team title. Her next race was the Pac-12 Championship where she earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors with a seventh place finish. Morley recorded her second seventh place finish in as many meets at regionals, recording her fourth all-region nod. She saved her best for her final race, earning an eighth place finish. The Buffs scored 65 points as a team to defeat New Mexico (103). The NCAA women’s team championship was the third in CU history.

2017: Morley had another solid season for the Buffs as a junior, starting with a third place (unattached) finish at the Colorado State Invitational. At the first varsity race of the season, she recorded a seventh-place finish and was CU’s second harrier across the line. Morley placed 21^st at the NCAA Pre-Nationals as CU’s No. 3 runner before placing 15^th at the Pac-12 Championships. Her finish helped the Buffs to their third straight team title. Morley led the Buffs at the NCAA Mountain Region Championship, placing seventh in the process to earn all-region honors. She finished the season with a 50^th place finish at NCAAs, helping CU to a third-place team finish.

2016: Morley was a welcomed addition to CU as a sophomore and had a great season which included All-Pac-12 Second Team and All-Mountain Region honors. Morley’s first uniformed race for CU was the Rocky Mountain Shootout. There she placed third overall, finishing with the eighth fastest time (20:11) in course history. Morley went on to take 26th at pre-nationals, finishing as CU’s No. 4 runner. She helped CU win its second straight Pac-12 team title as the Buffs’ No. 4 harrier, finishing ninth overall. Morley led CU at regionals, placing fourth overall and helping the Buffs to the team title. She just missed All-America honors at nationals, placing 43rd overall (CU’s No. 6) as CU took third overall.

AT MONTANA: Morley ran one cross country season at Montana. She led the Grizzlies in her first meet, finished first at the UM Invite in 16:43. Morley’s following meet was NCAA Pre-Nationals, where she placed 39th (20:40). In just the third race of her collegiate career, Morley came away with the Big Sky Championship, winning in 17:45. She went on to race at the NCAA Mountain Region Championship, taking eighth overall to qualify for NCAAs as an individual. Morley ended the season at nationals with a 97th place finish (20:49).

HIGH SCHOOL: Morley won several state championships spanning her high school career. As a senior, she won the 3,200-meter run (10:37.76) and she was also a member of the 4x400-meter relay team (4:01.71) with her younger sister, Bryn. Morley was also second in the 800 (2:16.70) and 1,600 (5:01.69) as well in 2014. During her junior year, she won the 800 (2:12.62), 1,600 (4:53.83) and 3,200 (10:58.85). Morley earned All-American distinction twice on the track. She placed fifth in the two-mile run at New Balance Indoor nationals and was second in the two-mile at New Balance Outdoor nationals in 2014. On the cross country course, Morley was a four-time state champion. She ran at the Foot Locker National Championship four years, placing third as a senior. Morley also represented Team USA in January, 2015, and won the Great Buppa Cross Country Championships in Scotland. She was a three-time All-American, earning first team honors in 2014 and second team recognition in 2011 and 13.

HIGH SCHOOL BESTS: 800-meters: 2:12.62; 1,600-meters: 4:50.19; 3,200-meters: 10:16.38.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Morley is an anthropology and English major and owns a GPA greater than 3.40. She was a Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention honoree in 2017.

PERSONAL: Makena Marie Morley was born on November 21, 1996 in Maui, Hawai’i. She is the daughter of Steve and Jill Morley and has two siblings, Logan and Bryn. She enjoys snowboarding, kayaking, cross country skiing, hiking, swimming, biking and reading.