Valley Lutheran’s Benjamin Benally wins Division IV state crown
Navajo Times | Quentin Jodie
Valley Lutheran’s Benjamin Benally receives a handshake from an AIA official after being introduced as the Division IV state champion on Saturday in Phoenix. Benally won his race in 16:22.8.
PHOENIX – In his chase for a state crown, Valley Lutheran harrier Benjamin Benally led at every mile marker during Saturday’s Arizona Division IV boys race.
Benally led by sixth-tenths of second after the first marker and 1.6 seconds after the second mile on the 5K course at the Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix.
In the final stretch, the Diné runner outkicked Chandler Preparatory runner Josef Iker and Arete Preparatory Academy’s Max Bruns for his first state crown.
Benally, who has roots in the Shiprock area, was clocked in at 16:22.8, coming nearly 10 seconds ahead of Iker, who clocked in at 16:32.1. Bruns was further back at 16:43.3.
“I’ve been preparing for this, basically since the season started,” Benally said. “I’ve been just working slowly, trying to do my best to PR and get mentally stronger.”
Benally entered the race having won two races this season. He won the Peaks Invitational in early September. His most recent win came at the AIA Glendale Heroes sectional race on Oct. 24.
“It kind of showed me what I’m capable of,” Benally said of winning his sectional race. “Knowing that I won that race, I knew I had a chance.”
For the entire race, the Navajo runner gauged his performance based on what Bruns and Iker were doing.
“Those two definitely helped push me today, and I give them credit,” Benally said. “I’m just really happy that I was able to pull this off.”
The Navajo teenager is Valley Lutheran’s first state champ according to archive records by the Arizona Interscholastic Association.
“It’s pretty amazing,” Benally said when asked to reflect what he accomplished. “I’ve been wanting this for quite some time and being able to say is nice to hear.”
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