Morley eager to test herself against Efraimson
By Doug Binder, DyeStat editor
Even though NXN Northwest Regionals is a team event one of the sub-plots to Saturday's meet at Eagle Island State Park in Idaho is the looming showdown between Alexa Efraimson and Makena Morley.
It will be the first time this season that two girls in the top four of the DyeStat individual rankings have gone to head to head. And it is also the first time that the two juniors have ever raced each other.
Morley, of Bigfork, is alredy a two-time Foot Locker finalist and her goal is to return to San Diego again. The Montana Class B champion and course record-breaker intends to use NXN Northwest as a chance to stay sharp in the long span between her state meet (Oct. 26) and Foot Locker West (Dec. 7).
And as an added bonus, she will get a chance to face one of the entrenched Big Three (along with Sarah Baxter and Elise Cranny), who are all expected to run at NXN in Portland.
Morley is No. 4 in the most recent individual rankings; Efraimson of Camas, Wash., fresh off a state championships record last Saturday, is No. 2.
"I'm super excited," Morley said. "I've been wanting to race someone at (Efraimson's) level."
Morley competed in the 8K Montana Cup cross country event on Nov. 2 in Deer Lodge and ran away from the field to win in 30:06. She ran with the lead pack -- including a coupe pretty good marathoners twice her age -- for two miles. Then she tore off an won by 97 seconds.
"It was fun," Morley said Thursday.
There has already been one snowfall in Bigfork, which is situated on the north end of Flathead Lake and not far from Glacier National Park. Warmer temperatures returned this week so her training has continued unabated.
NXN Northwest has been in her plans since the end of last year.
"This NXN regional, it just helps the time in between races go by way faster," she said.
Efraimson, who is entered along with her Camas teammates, is seeking her third berth at NXN. She ran 17:01.1 for 5K last week at Pasco to win the 4A championship.
Morley ran 16:35.4 for three miles to break Zoe Nelson's Montana championships record in Missoula (elevation 3,300 feet).
