Bigfork sophomore running sensation Makena Morley has been named the 2012-13 Gatorade Montana Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.

The announcement was made Thursday in Chicago.

The award recognizes athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field of competition.

Morley, by virtue of being named the Montana Runner of the Year, is a finalist for the Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year award. That will be announced later this month.

Morley captured her second straight Class B state cross country championship last October. The 5-foot-4 standout did not lose a race all season. Her average margin of victory was 1:05.1.

Morley followed that by finishing third at the Foot Locker West Regional and 24th at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.

Morley, a 4.0 GPA student, also won the Gatorade Montana award last year.

“She has a great work ethic,” Bigfork head coach Sue Loeffler said in a press release.

“She’s very strong mentally and physically. Makena runs every race with a lot of confidence, daring others to catch her.”