SAN DIEGO - Ninth grader Makena Morley of Bigfork settled for ninth place at the prestigious Foot Locker Cross Country Championships on Saturday.

Morley completed the 3-mile race with a time of 17 minutes, 40 seconds.

She crossed the finish line 18 seconds behind the winner, Molly Seidel of Hartland, Wis., 17:22.

The course consisted of two 1 1/2 mile loops at the Morley Field Sports Complex in Balboa Park.

Morley qualified for nationals by finishing third at the West Regional earlier this month, also in California.

"I was super nervous before the last two (races)," Morley said in a telephone interview Saturday.

"Regional, I was more nervous because I had to get in the top 10 to go to nationals."

Morley said she was in second place for the first mile at nationals.

"Girls then came up on me and passed me," she said.

Morley dropped down to 10th place heading into the steep hill right after the two-mile mark on the second loop.

"I then passed a girl with 50 meters to go to place ninth," she said.

Morley, the Class B state cross country champion, did not lose a race this fall until the West Regional.

"I'm not used to running with all these girls who are super fast," she said.

"It was super fun.

"I am really happy (with my results)," she said.

"I've made some amazing friendships (at the Foot Locker races). It gives you a bigger outlook on races."

Morley said the Morley Field layout was not as challenging as the one at the West Regional.

"It was still pretty tough," she said.

"It was an amazing experience. Races now will be so much more fun. I have this to look forward to (next year)."

Morley was the No. 3 finisher from the West at nationals.

"Take at least a week off, then I will keep running," she said.

"Not training like I use to, just fun runs."

Saturday's field consisted of 40 runners, 10 from each region. Only two freshman qualified.