Ganado, TC sophomores earn surprise win at Holbrook Invite
(Times photo – Chris Burnside)
By Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times
HOLBROOK, Ariz., Oct. 31, 2013
(Times photo – Chris Burnside)
In fact, for a good part of the race she trailed most of the frontrunners at the Hidden Cove Golf Course. But down the homestretch she finished the 3.1-mile course strong and emerged as one of the heavy favorites to win this weekend's sectional meet.
"I wanted to keep a good pace but I didn't want to get too far from the front pack," Haven said when asked about her strategy entering the race. "I stayed with them and when they started to slow down I was feeling more confident so I picked up my pace."
Haven finished the race with a time of 19:53 and beat second-place finisher Valentina Nyhart of Flagstaff Northland Prep by 32 seconds.
For that second-place finish, Nyhart was tested as she outkicked Ganado sophomore Nikesha Eagleman by four seconds.
"After I took the lead I was afraid that I might lose it," Haven conceded. "The last time I did that my dad said I gave up a big lead so this time I wanted to make sure I picked it up."
In the boy's race, Albert Fuller of Tuba City was equally impressive as the sophomore earned his first victory of the season. Fuller finished the race with a time of 16:58.
The attention-grabber, however, for this race was the impressive pack time of 29 seconds turned in by the Tuba City squad.
Freshman Vaughn Jackson (17:10.1) placed second overall ahead of twins Anthony Masayesva (17:10.3) and Brian Masayesva (17:10.5) while Eddie Loughran (17:27) finished seventh.
"I'm usually the third runner on the team," Fuller said. "Usually at the (halfway mark) the twins start to take off but today I wanted to try my best."
As non-scoring members, Tuba City junior Kyle Sumatzkuku (17:44) finished ahead of Christian Begody (17:45) for 10th place.
As a team, the Warriors finished in first place with a score of 17 points, which was two points shy of a perfect score.
""We are improving every week," Tuba City coach Arvis Myron said. "We wanted to try to get the boys to run as a pack and that was what they did. We're also bringing up some boys to the varsity level so that's made a difference. They are working very hard and it's showing in their races."
Despite their impressive finish, Myron said they still need work to do as they prepare for the sectional and state meet.
"From what I see it's going to take all seven runners to pull out the victory," he said.
Hopi was second with 91 points ahead of Chinle (124), Winslow (135), Holbrook (180) and Window Rock (238).
The Bruins placed two runners in the top 8 with Anfernee Howard (17:19) placing fifth ahead of teammate Terry Honventewa (17:29). Junior Keilan Poleahla (17:52) finished in 13th place.
Chinle, meanwhile, got a 16th place performance from Ashton Mike (18:01) a 17th place finish from Darrin Cly and a 18th place showing from Michael Shirley (18:07).
"Ashton has really come along the last month," said Chinle coach George Muniz de Lucero, while adding that he had Darren Joey and Branden Bia run the open race, which is designated as a J.V. race.
Joey finished the same course in 17:36 while Bia crossed the finish line in 17:53, which unofficially would have placed the two runners in ninth and 14th place in the varsity race.
"They did a good job for us and they proved themselves today," Lucero said of Joey and Bia. "We have a good core of runners and right now I have the top 7 settled but we have to stay healthy."
In the team standings, Scottsdale Prep won the 16-team invite with 87 points while Hopi and Northland Prep both scored 109 points. The Bruins, however, took home second place honors base on their sixth runner.
The Bruins had two runners that made the top 10 with Claryn Josytewa (21:00) finishing ahead of Christen Ben (21:04) for ninth place.
With 124 points, Tuba City finish in fifth place with Brianna Loughran and Chelsea Sheppard leading the way. Loughran (21:17) placed 13th, five spots ahead of Sheppard (22:08).
"I was telling the girls that we should be no worst than fourth," Tuba City coach Arvis Myron said of this week's upcoming sectional meet.
Holbrook will once again host the sectional meet, which will start with the Division III boy's race at 11:00 am (MST). Following that race the Division III girls, the Division IV boys and Division IV girls races will take place with the top 50 percent of full teams qualifying for state, which will take place at the Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix on Nov. 9.