Area runners gearing up for Sectional meet

HOLBROOK – The list of contenders for next week’s Division IV, North Section cross-country meet in Page is growing.

In fact, there are no clear favorites for the boys race as runners in the small schools division will toe the line on Thursday, Oct. 24 at the Lake Powell Nation Golf Course.

Greyhills senior Benjamin Miera is one of four area runners in contention. That short list also includes Miera’s teammate, Garrett Fowler, as well as Pinon sophomore Antwan Clement and Valley Sanders senior Tyethan Barney.

Last week, Miera placed second at last week’s Holbrook Invitational, clocking in at 17:15.9. He finished behind Window Rock’s Bearren Kee, a Division III runner who won the 5K race in 16:50.4.

In that same race, Clement (17:36.7) and Barney (17:46.0) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

“I like to get in one more hard week of practice before I taper off,” Miera said. “That way, I can PR for sectionals and state. I’d rather focus more on state than sectionals. Everyone cares about what happens in your final race of the year.”

As a transfer student, this is Miera’s first year running cross country for the Knights. Last year, he was part of the New Mexico Class 5A state championship team at Rio Ranch High School.

“I feel like I’m ready,” Miera said. “When I was at Rio Rancho, I ran on some golf courses, so I know how to run on them. The rolling hills is what I thrive on.”

Fowler is expected to be up there with Miera as the two Greyhills runners have swapped the top spots for the second half of the season. Early in the year it was Fowler who was the Knight’s top runner.

“I started the season in good shape,” said Fowler, who sat out last week’s race due to a right heel injury. “I was running about 60 miles a week, but I had to stop running for about a week.

“I feel like I won’t be in shape for sectionals, so my time might be a little longer,” he added. “I’m not too worried about my time. I just hope that I can keep up with Benjamin.”

Clement, meanwhile, is looking to challenge the two Greyhills runners. More than anything, he would like his entire team to get qualified for state.

“We’re trying to pick up our momentum,” Clement said while noting that the Eagles are trying to identify its fourth and fifth runner. “They’re slowly getting up there, but we’re almost at the end of our season.”

Besides Clement, Piñon also has juniors Trent Begay and Lucas James who gives the Eagles a 1-2-3 punch.

Piñon coach Autumn Cayaditto says they’re trying to close the gap between their top three runners with freshman Ty Klah and sophomore Wilson Sanchez. At the Holbrook meet, the Eagles finished with a split time of 4:59 between its first and fifth runners.

“We like them to make state as a team,” Cayaditto said. “That’s the overall goal. We’re working with our last two runners. We’re a little off-balanced, but they’re progressing.”

Like Piñon, the Valley Sanders Pirates are looking to get their team qualified for state. Last season, Valley had only four members on the boys team with Barney being the lone state qualifier for state.

“My goal is to get my teammates to go to state with me,” Barney said.

At the Holbrook meet, Valley placed sixth overall and finished ahead of Piñon in the team standing. The other Pirate runners include Jake Apache, Eric Slim, Kyle Francis, Brayden Martinez, and Jacob Gene.

“I think we got a chance this year,” Barney said. “I just have to push them a little harder.”

Girls

Of the three teams that competed at the Holbrook meet, Valley was the only squad to field an entire team.

The Pirates were led by senior Neveah Barlow, who placed 15th overall.

“We started the season kind of rough, but we’re working our way up,” Barlow said of her team. “We’re working on our form.”

The Valley harrier believes they might surprise some people at the sectional meet and, perhaps, get qualified for state. For much of last season, the Lady Pirates finished dead last at all of their meets.

“We’re not finishing last, so that’s an improvement,” Barlow said.

The senior credits head coach Dorothy Mitchell for improving their outlook.

“She really pushes us, she really supports, and she encourages us,” Barlow said. “She has us doing all these workouts to improve ourselves.”

For Piñon, the Lady Eagles are looking to get sophomore Sonora Begay qualified for state. At the Holbrook meet, she finished sixth overall.

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