Area runners make AIA all-state team

PHOENIX – The Arizona Division III boys state meet featured 258 runners.

The Division IV boys had 188 entries while the girls race had 109 runners.

A handful of the area’s state qualifiers earned all-state recognition by the Arizona Interscholastic Association by playing in the top 21 in their respective races on Saturday at the Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix.

Window Rock junior Bearren Kee placed third in the Division III race as he toured the 5K state meet course in 16:02.3.

“It was a fast race,” Kee said. “The course was kind of tough with all the rolling hills, but I’m happy with my finish.”

In the first mile, Kee was pacing at 5:13.2 and he was tad faster at the two-mile mark of 10:16.1. But he started to taper off with about a mile left in the race as Kee finished behind state champ Bryson Nielsen of Eastmark (15:37.5) and Page junior Symond Martin (15:39.9).

“I still have another year, so I’m going to keep training hard for next season,” said Kee, who made the first-team, all-state team with Martin.

Holbrook’s Ian Masayesva, Page’s Nyall Prather and Ganado’s Levi Kee made the third-team, all-state selection with their finish.

Masayesva led the trio with a 19th-place finish followed by Prather and Levi Kee.

“It feels pretty good placing that high with it being my sophomore year,” Levi Kee said. “I know that I can push a lot harder for the next two years, and maybe my senior year I can try and win state.”

The Ganado harrier completed the race in 16:38.5 as he made vast improvements from last year’s state meet when he placed 123rd overall with a time of 18:53.9.

“I knew that I had to run a 5:30 in the first mile to stay in the top 20,” Levi Kee said.

At the two-mile marker he was pacing 10:42.1 as he dropped to No. 32. But in that last mile, he moved up 11 spots and earned that final spot on the podium.

“I used those mile markers to pace myself,” Levi Kee said. “I knew when I needed to push it and pick it up.”

In the final stretch, the Ganado runner edged Page runner Maximus Reid for that last slot on the podium as Reid clocked in at 16:38.9, which was four-tenths slower than Kee.

“It all came down to the final kick and I outkicked him,” he said.

Division IV

The Division IV boys race, five area runners made the podium headed by the seventh-place finish from St. Michael sophomore Evans Tracy, who clocked in at 17:11.1.

“I got top seven this year, and I know that I can do better next year,” Tracy said.

Like Levi Kee, the St. Michael harrier noticed his improvements at every mile marker.

“The improvement I made was pretty much everywhere,” Tracy said. “I mean, my one-mile, and two-mile were better. The only thing that I didn’t like was I slowed down after the second mile.”

Hopi junior Hunter Bahnimptewa came in next in ninth-place followed by Sanders Valley’s Tyethan Barney (12th), Piñon’s Antwan Clement (14th) and Piñon’s Trent Begay (20th).

“I feel really great, and I’m really proud of myself,” Barney said of making the all-state team.

Like Tracy, Barney said he started to fade down the stretch as he finished with a time of 17:18.1.

“The same thing happened to me,” the Valley runner said. “I tried to keep my pace, but I still passed one other guy.”

In the girls race, St. Michael junior Leonna Slim also made a podium appearance with her ninth-place finish. Slim finished her race in 21:33.6.

“I loved every second of this race,” Slim said. “I’m really happy that I got on the podium even though I’m sick. I’m glad that I placed that high.”

With her results, the St. Michael harrier is looking forward to returning to state next season.

“This is encouraging,” Slim said. “I’m aiming for top 5 next year. I’m gonna try and train hard for my senior year.”

---