Debut winners:
Daangoiina Haven, Tyrell Natewa win Shiprock Marathon

SHIPROCK

In her first Shiprock Marathon race, former Ganado High standout Daangoiina Haven had to overcome some mental challenges at the 18-mile mark.

Haven, who recently moved back to Arizona after living near Chicago for several years, was afraid on whether she could finish the 26.2-mile race.

“I was running with a guy, and he started to pick it up and I was in no man’s land, so I was by myself,” Haven said of reaching the 18-mile mark. “That was when it got to me mentally because my legs were hurting and I was like, ‘Can I do this?’ I just told myself that I can’t stop now, that I have to keep going because I had like eight more miles to go.”

The 27-year-old eventually crossed the finish line in first place with a time of 3:50:00.57. in the women’s race as she let a sigh of relief for finishing the grueling race. Her finish was the 20th best time recorded among 189 registered marathon runners which included Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren.

“It’s my first year back home,” Haven said. “I was living in Chicago, teaching out there and once I got home, I just decided to try Shiprock Marathon because it’s local and I like the support.”

Haven, who had limited training due io injuries and lifestyle changes, trailed two runners halfway through the race and by mile 14 she caught up with them. And for the next three miles, she paced with them before she decided to challenge herself.

“They were way up front but after I got closer to them, I thought that I could win this race,” she said. “After mile 16, I started to push it a little bit and so I went for it.”

In those final eight miles she put some distance from the rest of the field as second-place finisher Liah Frank of Lukachukai, Arizona finished nearly seven minutes back at 3:56:51.53 while Durango runner Jennifer Eskew took third at 3:56:51.72.

“I was really surprised of how patient I was, even though I felt like my legs were about to rip,” Haven said. “It was mental, and I felt calm, patient and I just trusted myself.

“The first time I ran a marathon was probably three years ago, but I learned a lot from that,” she added.

Men’s winner 

Like Haven, Tyrell Natewa entered his first Shiprock Marathon not knowing that he was going to be crowned the champion.

“I just came in with the hope of just running,” said Natewa, who is Zuni and Laguna Pueblo. “Going through the middle part, seeing where I was at 13 miles, I felt like I had an opportunity.”

Natewa, who graduated from Rehoboth Christian School in 2013, took over the lead near the 20-mile mark and from there he finished the race in 2:58:55.29.

“I was just trying to get under three hours today and I was able to accomplish that,” Natewa said.

Prior to running the Shiprock Marathon, Natewa competed in the Chicago, Tucson, California International and Boston (twice) marathons.

“This is my seventh marathon, but I got injured in December with a calf injury,” he said. “I had to kind of build up my mileage again. My max mileage is usually like 80 per week but it was down to like 50 because of my injury for this training block.

“I hope to continue to build that mileage to 100,” he added.

During Saturday’s race, the 31-year-old says there was no linger effects of his ankle injury as he credited physiotherapist Dr. Gavin Lynch for helping him get back into running form.

“It’s all good now,” he said. “I’ve been able to do physiotherapy with Gavin Lynch and he really helped me. I was able to train and I’m grateful that I was able to perform today.”

With his latest win, Natewa says he’s looking forward to his next major race when he runs in The Marathon Project in Chandler, Arizona, which is scheduled for Dec. 12, 2026.

“It means a lot to win this,” he said. “It really does. It’s given me confidence to train for The Marathon Project.”

Page native Brandon Dugi and Albuquerque’s Luis Alberto Martinez Castro joined Natewa on the podium with Dugi taking second at 3:03:22.14 while Castro clocking in at 3:05:34.89.

Dugi, who finished as the runner-up for the second straight year, was pleased with how he competed.

“I kind of led for most of the way, until like mile 20,” Dugi said. “That’s when he (Natewa) came up right behind me and he just had more leg speed than I did towards the end, and he took off. It was awesome running with him for a bit, you know, kind of sharing some miles with him.”

For his next race, Dugi is scheduled to compete in the Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France, which is in the Alps where France, Italy and Switzerland share a border.

“Mount Blanc is the biggest mountain in Europe, and the race runs around it, so there’s a ton of races out there,” Dugi said. “The one I’m doing is a 62-miler and it’s a lot different from out here. It’s more of a mountainous race, so you’re running with a pack and you’re running with poles and it’s a lot slower but it’s still very tough.”

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